|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Isha Mckenzie-Mavinga |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not Homogeneous |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not Homogeneous |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shalom Shalom You want to know My connection with Judaism You want a declaration Shalom Shalom You want to know If I’ve been to Jerusalem If I’m Ethiopian Shalom Shalom You want to know If I’m reborn Or born this way Shalom Shalom You want to know If mother was Jewish Cos I’m like this Shalom Shalom You want to know If I’ve been batmitzvad If I’ve eaten matzo Celebrated chanuka Seen a Mezuzah Broken Chula Wear a Magen David Eat bagels and gefilte fish At Rosh Hashanah You want to know If you can call me Falasha Shalom Shalom You want to know If I light candles on Friday If I am Sephardi or Askenazi If I am smaltzy or shmoozy Shalom Shalom You want to know If I belong Shalom Shalom You want to know If I’m black or woman first If I’m feminist or fundamentalist If I am political or radical If I’m good enough If I know my stuff If I’ve been back to Africa If I was born here You want to know If I speak first for women Before other oppressions If I know the diaspora Malcolm and Martin Luther Do I remember Mary Seacole? Who are my role models? Why I wear African dress With whom do I have sex? You want to know If I hang out in women’s nests If I’m Ms, Mrs or Mistress If I know Hatsheput and Mekeda Charlotte-Sophie and Louise Marie You want to know Why my hair is exposed Why I wear men’s clothes Why I am me Why I am free You want to know If I belong To you or me No Divided Loyalties. You want to know If I know who I am Brown mixed race Hybrid or Uncle Sam You want to know If I mix With Europeans or Africans Or those lighter ones You want to know Which Island I am from Who taught me to cook? Pelau rice and curry chichen When I hear racism Whose side I am on If I am sitting on the fence Confused, bewildered Different camps You want to know If I’m mixed up inside You want me to decide You want to know If I listen to Vilvaldi, or Bob Marley If I’m a product of coercion Night cultivation, desperation Or creative innovation If I am a liability Endanger to racial purity Living in duel worlds Many pasts, presents futures You want to know If I am wholesale, discount One hundred percent You want to know If I am qualified and Justified You want to know You want to know. (1995) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|