by Rasha Hamid
Read them
Langston
Maya
El Tayyib
Polacco
Wrap them in the
promise and power
of words
Call them
Writers
Mathematicians
Dancers
Dreamers
give them tools
to make them a world
Elicit their questions
But withhold answers
that they might seek
their own truths
Allow them their names
Your tongue will not break
Help them draw strength from their roots
Demand
every hand
be outstretched
if one falls
Mention that life exists
beyond these walls
Help them to know that
Money is not worth
Our value is not determined
by the circumstances of our birth
Show them beauty is
not
one color
or texture
or size
That real
is beautiful
and the media
lies
Inspire them
with simple stories
of women and men
of every color
every creed
every religion
Act out
Rosa’s courageous stands
The story of Wangari’s trees
How Harriet never lost a passenger
And Mahatma marched to the sea
How Mandela was free in his cell
And Victor Jara never stopped singing
How Martin’s words painted pictures
that started the bells of freedom ringing
Invite them to join you and
rise up singing
redemption songs
these songs of freedom
with all their breath
and all their might
to the babies
and to the elders alike
so their lives
can ignite
change.
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