My Roots
Our Roots: A Legacy of Strength
These roots have sprung into a grounded tree of fixtures,
Each branch an embodiment of us—each member of the village,
Influencing, reproducing, and connecting,
Carrying the wisdom and love of We.
Each branch has a name,
A purpose, leading me closer to my own legacy.
As my world—my village—changes,
I look back at my vision at fifteen.
Gene Calhone opened my mind and heart to difference,
To diversity, alongside Isoke,
Who taught me to shout out fear,
To open my heart to the world,
To humanity and its infinite beauty.
Through new bridges and fresh faces,
I learned to appreciate lifestyles that surrounded me,
And the close mind, the fear that once bounded me,
No longer held me to ignorance and intolerance.
I too, was able to SEE.
South Park—a place of history—
Where blood, sweat, and tears were invested for me, and for you
For the generations before and after,
A place where roots were planted,
Roots like mine, and roots like yours.
It was the village that raised this child,
And as this child stands before you,
I too am planting the seeds
To produce the strength, the integrity,
The moxie that will carry us into the future.
See, my roots lay deep beneath the soil,
Embedded in the backs of my ancestors,
Richly woven into the community’s threads of voices.
As does yours, intertwining with mine,
Bound together by the circle’s crest,
Defining us, breathing life into the seedlings
That will rise after us.
My roots are our roots,
And as we water these trees,
Nurturing life for generations to come,
We will see the change we’ve worked for—
A climate of hope, of unity, of strength.
It will be time to harvest again.
Why? Because your roots and my roots are truly great within.
With every step, with every breath,
We honor the past, defy the death
Of hope and love. We rise again,
United in spirit, that's how we win!
So stand together, Black and free,
Our roots entwined in eternity.
For unity flows through blood and bone—
As long as we are unified,
We are never, truly are alone.
With every glimmer of light, With every faded scar
I grow a lot more stronger
I am, Because We are
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