Why I Write Black

two generations

Because flowers grow in strange places

like tattered pieces of wood and recycled paper

 

Because history is frost bitten

and winter refuses to be comforted by the sun

bluish-white and numbed pain

cold skin

and prickling feeling

 

Because the sky don’t stay dark forever

but light ain’t taught in history class

 

Because some skirts

are too heavy

to lift without permission

Because Dust Tracks on The Road

was subtracted 3 chapters

Because some truths

are too big to sacrifice

on American alters

 

Because Zora died broke

and Nina died sad

Because their voices still sing

Because strange fruit still swings

 

Because ignorance is worth more than rubies

and diamond gems

Because no one has picked up the pieces

of truth

underneath the ruble

of bombed out churches

on 16th streets

Because little girls ain’t little girls no more

but crushed bones

and melted skin

a strike of disobedience

against premeditated sin

 

Because hope is stronger than despair

Because freedom is worth more

than all the

raisins in the sun

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Yecheilyah

Writing to restore Black historical truth through fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

31 thoughts on “Why I Write Black”

    1. Its a metaphor for exposing America’s secrets. When you lift up someone’s skirt symbolically it means you’re exposing something about them that is hidden. Heavy is symbolic for depth. When something is heavy it means that there’s lots of weight to it. Its deep. Sometimes when I hear something deep I say, “Wow, that’s heavy”.

      In Zora Neale Hurston’s autobiography, “Dust Tracks on The Road” she spoke negatively about America and was not allowed to publish the book until she removed 3 whole chapters because “Some skirts are too heavy to lift without permission” = some truths are too deep to be exposed

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  8. I put a post about Juanita Moore, the actress from Imitation of Life, passing away. And the issue of “passing” came up in one of the comments and I thought about you and your Stella series. I thought it would be a good follow-up to the post about Ms. Moore. Looking for a post about your character Stella.

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        1. So I realized I have not many posts on Stella! Not any that delve into her psyche anyway. I’ll have to produce one soon. These links are the best I have right now. One is a review on Beyond The Colored Line and another is a Review on the entire Stella series. Because Stella from book two is not the first Stella, the review on the entire series may be more informational. Both are great in any event. If these do not suffice, give me a few days and I will draft something up for you.

          Review: Beyond The Colored Line
          https://thepbsblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/05/silvers-book-reviews-beyond-the-colored-line-stella-book-2-by-yecheilyah-ysrayl/

          Review: The Stella Trilogy
          https://thepbsblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/silvers-book-reviews-stella-a-short-story-and-josephs-story-the-road-to-freedom-by-yecheilyah-ysrayl/

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