“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.”
I stay awake pondering, wondering
and simply cannot get these questions
out of my mind.
Why does the little girl on the play ground
feel awkward about her hair
Why is she laughed at, pointed at
When her hair is nothing but curly.
Why is the young black boy across the street
too afraid to drive his car late at night
Why does he shiver at the blue and red light flashing.
Why does the young girl down the street lie she is from Chicago
when we can hear her strong foreign accent
Why is she so scared to identify as an immigrant.
Why is the young boy told to man up
and then young girl told not to be too smart
because you see sweetie
women who are too educated scare men.
Why do we tell the young children to keep quiet
you’re too young to understand
When did we decide it is our duty to punish those that are too fat
and those who are too skinny.
When did we begin to decide what should be worn and accepted
When did we become so scared to address our fears with one another,
and prefer to plant bullets into one another
When did the sword become mightier than the pen.
You see I have questions, questions for you African leaders,
When did human rights become something Western
When did we forget that we are all humans and all lives matter.
When did greed creep into our nation
that a new car becomes more than a child’s education
Why do we point at the West as they flourish and we wallow in our shortcomings
When did we start treating refugees like weeds in our beautiful garden,
Is the garden not for all to share.
I ask and wonder why do we decide
to turn our cheeks the other way
When did being politically correct
become more important than standing up for what is just and true.
How did we forget that our actions have consequences and our children are following our footsteps.
When did we simply forget how to be human?
P.S This is not a poem.
Damie Omole 