A Black Woman in America by Mimi Duncan
on the backs of my eyelids is my lil granny
so when i close my eyes, I'm met with hers
the darkest chocolate and the most bittersweet memories
my lil granny was too many things to count
she was the daughter of two bodies the world forgot
a mother that never kissed her kids goodnight
a sister whose brothers didn’t protect her
and a needle pushing abuser who’s back hand hit harder than any belt, switch, or wooden spoon i’ve encountered
my lil granny was a black woman
a body whose gold armour was tarnished and torn apart by the same people you call relative
a woman whose bones shattered like the passenger’s side window of her old caprice
a brain bleeding out like every black and brown body shot down by the people you swear protect us
my little granny was a black woman in America
a body that needed to be nourished with shea butter and coconut oil
a woman who needed to be caressed by caramel arms
a brain that needed to be touched by words spoken from honey lips
my lil granny was my first black role model
the same woman zombie walking down the street in pursuit of her next high was also the woman that bought me my first piece of candy, a banana laffy taffy
the same woman who picked up heroine on the corner of the street was the same woman who picked my brothers and I up from school
the same woman who spent nights sleeping on concrete floors under street lights told me, “you’ll always have a home with me.”
the same woman who caused my mother’s tears her whole childhood wiped mine away and said, “I'm going to do better this time.”
and she did.
my lil granny taught me how to be a black woman in America.
taught me that when I talk, it should be heard through oceans and echo through caves
that when I smile my teeth should be seen from mountains and rivers miles away
that when i sing, the sounds of my joy should ring through the ears of angels and that when I dance, it should rain holy water in hell.
my lil granny taught me that I am more than what they expect
not the girl she was
but the girl she hoped to be.
Mimi Duncan is from Tacoma Washington and uses she/Her pronouns. She is a sophomore at the University of Puget Sound studying History and Politics with an emphasis in African American studies. She is also President of the Black Student Union. In her free time, she enjoys reading, collaging, and activism. Her motto is, “I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me.” — Tracee Ellis Ross