We live in a world that tiptoes around the conversations that will make a Black or Brown woman speak with passion, Passion because of colonial entitlement due to racism There, I said it they hate to see us win when we stand for something we believe in when it goes against the grain harvested on lands stolen from previous generations you cannot own the land but yet they’ve claimed it they speak of free countries while ignoring the oppression and violence that made them on the backs of slaves and genocide of the natives now you want me to be quiet because you’re not ready to have this conversation you’re not ready to pull back the veil and see all of the blood spilled hatred You quiver when we call it Privilege that you do not know our experience I’m just trying to breathe and yet colonizer while I’m saying this, you can’t even look at me Can’t even see that we’re bleeding I see you, We see everything I pray for better days but more importantly I pray, that when I speak with passion you do not deny they’re your actions, Look me in the eyes this time Hear me when I speak Listen to these words and know they’re not just coming from me. You cannot erase a people whose roots Are ingrained like a thousand different seedlings Teniki. -Kaleigh River