5 poems to reflect on Black Consciousness

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Black Consciousness Day, celebrated on November 20, is a very important date for the Brazilian population. That's because our country suffered almost 400 years of slavery, where black people were humiliated and enslaved.

The legacy of this painful past is a structurally based racism and the continued impoverishment and oppression of the black population.

That's why this date was created, so that people can reflect on the history of black people in Brazil, their importance and appreciation.

Thus, we from Toda Matéria selected 5 poems that bring important reflections on blackness. Check out!

1. black lining, by Adam Ventura

my freedom letter
didn't give me farms,
no money in the bank,
no twisted whiskers.

my freedom letter
sewed my steps
to the night runners
of my skin

2. I'm black, by Solano Trindade

I'm black
my grandparents were burned
by the sun of africa
my soul received the baptism of the drums
atabaques, gongs and agogos

I was told that my grandparents
came from Loanda
as a low-priced commodity
they planted sugarcane for the new mill owner

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and founded the first Maracatu
Then my grandfather fought like a damn
in the lands of Zumbi
How brave was he?
In capoeira or the knife
wrote did not read
the stick ate
It wasn't a father John
humble and meek

even grandma
it wasn't a joke
in the Malês war
she stood out
in my soul was
the samba
the drumming
the swing
and the desire for liberation

3. I found my origins, by Oliveira Silveira

I found my origins
in old files
books
I found
in damn objects
trunks and shackles
found my origins
in the east
at sea in filthy tumblers
I found
in sweet words
corners
in furious drums
rites
found my origins
in the color of my skin
in the wool of my soul
in me
in my dark people
in my haughty heroes
I found
I finally found them
I found myself

4. Integrity, by Geni Mariano Guimarães

to be black,
in integrity
Calm and warm from the days.
to be black,
with curls,
Shiny back,
With feet loose on the paths.

to be black,
with black hands,
with black breasts,
Black soul.

to be black,
In the strokes,
in the steps,
In black sensitivity.

to be black,
From back and back,
From crying and laughing,
Of truths and lies,
Like all beings that inhabit the earth.

black
pure black afro blood,
spouting out
Through every pore.

5. they screamed at me black, from Victoria Santa Cruz

I was only seven years old,
only seven years old,
What seven years!
Not even five!
Suddenly some voices in the street
they screamed at me Black!
Black! Black! Black! Black! Black! Black! Black!
"Am I black by any chance?" - told me
YEA!
"What is it to be black?"
Black!
And I didn't know the sad truth that it hid.
Black!
And I felt black,
Black!
as they said
Black!
And I went back
Black!
how they wanted
Black!
And I hated my hair and my thick lips
and I just looked at my roasted meat
And I went back
Black!
And backtracked.. .
Black! Black! Black! Black!
Black! Black! Neegra!
Black! Black! Black! Black!
Black! Black! Black! Black!
And passed the time,
and always bitter
I kept carrying on my back
my heavy load
And how it weighed!…
I smoothed my hair,
I powdered my face,
and between my bowels always resounded the same word
Black! Black! Black! Black!
Black! Black! Neegra!
Until one day that backtracked, backtracked and was going to fall
Black! Black! Black! Black!
Black! Black! Black! Black!
Black! Black! Black! Black!
Black! Black! Black!
And?
And?
Black!
Yea
Black!
i am
Black!
black
Black!
I'm black
Black!
Yea
Black!
i am
Black!
black
Black!
I'm black
From now on I don't want
smooth my hair
I do not want
And I'll laugh at those,
that by avoiding - according to them -
that for avoiding us any inconvenience
They call black people of color
And what color!
BLACK
And how beautiful it sounds!
BLACK
And what a rhythm it has!
black black black black
black black black black
black black black black
black black black
in the end
I finally understood
IN THE END
I don't go back anymore
THEFINAL
And safe advance
IN THE END
advance and wait
IN THE END
And I bless heaven because God wanted
what jet black was my color
And I already understood
IN THE END
I already have the key!
BLACK BLACK BLACK BLACK
BLACK BLACK BLACK BLACK
BLACK BLACK BLACK BLACK
BLACK BLACK
I am black!