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I AM A BLACK
According to my Teachers
I am now an African-American
They call me out of my name.
BLACK is an open umbrella.
I am Black and A Black forever.
I am one of the Blacks.
We are Here, we are There.
We occur in Brazil, in Nigeria, Ghana,
in Botswana, Tanzania, in Kenya,
in Russia, Australia, in Haiti, Soweto, in
Grenada, in Cuba, in Panama, Libya, in
England and Italy, France.
We are graces in any places.
I am Black and A Black forever.
I am other than Hyphenation.
I say, proudly, MY PEOPLE!
I say, proudly, OUR PEOPLE!
Our People do not disdain to eat yams or
melons or grits or to put peanut butter in stew.
I am Kojo. In West Africa Kojo
means “Unconquerable.” My parents
named me the seventh day from my birth
in Black spirit, Black faith, Black communion.
And I Capitalize my name.
Do not call me out of my name.Gwendolyn Brooks
