Afrolatina – Poem
By hola | Published | No Comments
Black & Brown lives matters !
In times of social vindication, justice and equality, a poem by Natasha Carrizosa, dedicated to the Afro-Latino brothers & sisters who suffer double discrimination. Remember: we all are in the same side of the history.
En tiempos de reivindicación social, justicia e igualdad, un fragmento de un poema de Natasha Carrizosa, dedicado a los hermanos y hermanas afrolatinos que sufren una doble discriminación. Y recuerden: todos estamos del mismo lado de la historia.
With permission of Arte Público Press, from the book “Manteca!” (Anthology of Afro-Latin@ poets) | Con el permiso de la Editorial Arte Público Press, del libro “Manteca!”
MEJIAFRICANA
born with to tongues
i speak of – hablo de
i write of – escribo de
mi vida cultural colorada
pintada – painted picture
para que puedan ver
that I am
Mejiafricana
that’s half and half
but whole-as in
an entire of aztec warriors
breathed orange red fire into my lungs
that’s half and half
but whole-as in
an entire tribe from the congo
rained blue black blood into my soul
i am that red brown black sista
thinking and breathing them poetic thoughts
that prolific prophetic poet
with them red brown twisted locks
i see and record the world in black ink
like the skin of my people
i am fierce like panthers
militant with pen as they be
hot water cornbread oxtails and collard greens
chanting down Babylon with
jah! rastafari beats
i am ghetto soliloquies of haitian refugees
spoken underneath Harlem’s balconies
i represent the black freedom
of which the negro spiritual speaks
i am all things black
and all black things I be
Yo soy la morena
la poema
que despierta su mente
que enciende su alma
con papel y pluma
i can make the sun and moon rise
at the same time
i am el viento que viene de méxico
el este y el oeste
esta es la verdad…
(If you wants to listen the poem in her own voice, here.)
Natasha Carrizosa is a poet, writer, creative writing teacher, and speaker. Her work is deeply rooted in her childhood and life experiences. Raised as the daughter of a fierce African American mother and Mexican father, her writing reflects the dichotomy of these two rich cultures. Carrizosa is the author of mexiafricana, heavy light, and crown. She has performed her work and conducted workshops for audiences in Madrid, Paris, St. Lucia, New York, Chicago, Houston, and many other places. Her love for the arts inspired the creation of natty roots & rhyme, one of the most dynamic poetry open mics in the country.
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