Children are the Future


Children see the entire world in a different way than adults. The innocence of discovery is something we all enjoyed. I often wonder, had people not interjected certain ideas into my mind at certain times, where would my childlike mind had lead me? So here's to nostalgia, to innocence, and the people that will become our future.


An Apple A Day


Living a healthy life is important, and many people take their concerns with eating right or losing weight to unhealthy extremes. This month, I'll be talking about eating habits, sharing some of my favorite recipes, and focusing on healthy choices.

Legends of Africa


One thing I've noticed during my years attending predominately white schools and having circles of friends that are more diverse, is that the major factor in racism and prejudice is ignorance. There is a lot about black culture that many non-blacks just don't know. Often this lack of awareness rears its head in the form of ignorant assumptions and awkward questions. The Legends of Africa series touches on topics that may be extremely familiar to blacks, but may not be familiar to non-blacks.

Religion & Theology


I've always been interested in Religion & Theology. As I child, I questioned everything. I wanted to know why this denomination was different from that denomination. I wanted to know how Christianity differed from Islam, and how they differed from Buddhism, etc. I found that as I studied with the faith of a believer and the open mind of scientist, the world of religion started to make more sense and I was able to form beliefs that I don't question. April 2015 is dedicated to my journey to those beliefs.

Circus of Words The Way I Wear My Slave Hair

Monday, April 21, 2014

The Way I Wear My Slave Hair

The Way I Wear My Slave Hair

The ability to reduce your own genetics
To words and phrases someone else created,
And devour your own culture
With the fuel and ammunition of someone else's hatred--
     How did we fall so far in our purpose?
We let the world embody badness in our image,
Allowed ourselves to be brainwashed
That we turn away from our own reflection and grimace...
We assign attributes to our natural features
Let the world paint it as the poster child for evil
And set the course of our entire existence
On a feature we were born with for a purpose and a reason--
We exist in some vicious cycle,
    breeding self hatred,
For if my hair is but a crown of unkempt shame
Then my skin must be the mark of the devil
Unworthy of beauty or respect or acclaim.
We unwittingly cage ourselves in this box
Of a description falsely forced upon us
But accepted universally--
     this parade of caged souls
We pace; we walk around the world in uneven ruts...
Will we dig ourselves so deep?
Burry our own corpses out on display,
Make a show for the world to enjoy and criticize
While our children sink further
     and further in our decay.
This ability that plaques us--
Stalks us like an epidemic wrought with frailty and death--
Will we break free of its ungrateful shackles
Or cultivate our own demise even in our last breath?

Physical features such as hair should never be symbols of certain attributes. It's ridiculous to say "slave hair" just as it's ridiculous to say black skin is evil skin. [As always this is a specific example; the principle is colorless.]


Ree Hughes
Eillya-Marí Kocumba

I love to write. Sometimes its graceful and classic--like a trapeze act--or bold and brave--like a lion tamer--perhaps a little humorous--like a clown. This is my circus of words.

Right now, my blog is mostly poetry (which naturally covers a wide range of topics). Everyone says great blogs have a niche, a specific topic they hone in to write about. I'm still working that out, I guess. In the mean time, you can use the menu in archive page to narrow down the topics you wish to see.

Welcome to the site. Feel free to comment and I hope you enjoy.

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