Today is Martin Luther King Jr day here in the U.S., and it leaves me with a window of time to reflect on all the privileges I’ve had as a white woman, but also the ways in which I’ve felt voiceless and powerless. And the whole process of gained freedoms and then a return to out-dated thinking, well there’s no better term for it than backlash.
Why must we go through this cycle to experience change? All of or fates our intertwined, and so I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with backlash.
Let freedom ring!
The Sting of Blacklash
Flinch before they ask;
that’s the sting of backlash.
Three steps forward,
two steps off-track.
when panic and hatred and bigotry attack
equality falls through cruel, steel cracks.
Separate, but equal,
racial slurs for the people,
poke fun at each others’ biological facts.
Stereotypes sting, and
an honest conversation
is a disagreeable task.
They say its your privacy,
but then they ask and ask.
We’re all slaves to something;
we all turn our backs,
ready ourselves for another lash.
© 2023 | K.Hartless
| The Backlash Blues by Langston Hughes Mister Backlash, Mister Backlash, Just who do you think I am? You raise my taxes, freeze my wages, Send my son to Vietnam You give me second class houses, Second class schools. Do you think that colored folks Are just second class fools? When I try to find a job To earn a little cash, All you got to offer Is a white backlash. But the world is big, Big and bright and round– And it’s full of folks like me who are Black, Yellow, Beige, and Brown. Mister Backlash, Mister Backlash What do you think I got to lose? I’m gonna leave you, Mister Backlash, Singing your mean old backlash blues. You’re the one Will have the blues. Not me– Wait and see! |
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
I loved this so much. ❤️
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Thank you, Colleen. I’m so glad. 💜
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That you have experienced it in both directions shouldgive you a fair idea of what has to change.
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You would think. I want to be a freedom fighter, but most times, I’m just fighting through my own day and trying to make some ripples in a few other people’s lives. It was such a nice surprise to have you comment here. Thank you, friend.
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That is what most people do I think.
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powerful poem! I hadn’t heard the song, it’s great!
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Thanks, Tricia. It played this morning and I grabbed at the phone to save it. I hadn’t heard it in a long time. I appreciate your comments.
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💓
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