By Vivian Ebiske
IG: woahitsvivian
Black man, protect me
Don’t always let me lead
Why must I be on the frontline fighting for you to achieve and dream and even breathe, yet you’re so focused on the superficial things?
Black man, protect me
Let my hair continue to defy gravity
Let my skin be exponentially melanated
Let my excellence soar to the heavens
Don’t use your catapult of words to ground me
Black man, protect me
Stand by me when the world has almost destroyed me with its indignities
Treat my wounds with love and tenderness
Don’t keep salt and sand handy
Black man, protect me
Don’t focus on doing the bare minimum
Don’t disregard my war stories because you think you have “bigger ones”
Don’t get mad at me for my disappointment
I love you, that’s why me holding you accountable is important
Black man, I’m on my knees, protect me