to the black girls with the heavy names.
to the black girls with the heavy names.
that make them feel ashamed and wish they could change.
sister.
love your name.
even if it’s as long as a thesis.
correct them when they say it wrong
then
watch them become speechless.
watch as their tongues start to twist and stumble on every single syllable.
let them know your name is land unobtainable and won’t be robbed or changed cause it’s original.
do not, black girl,
shorten or let them mispronounce your name, your identity.
the evidence of your pedigree and your ancestry.
your name is not just a word or simply letters.
it be scripture.
it be a reminder that although you are far from home
home is still calling, calling you by your name.
the name ordained by the gods. tattooed on our tongues so we don’t forget.
our names be a love letter sent by god herself and stamped with the tears of our ancestors.
our names carry the forgotten, the dead, living and the emerging.
our names a testament to the strength of our people.
our names a reminder that although they’ve taken our land, our resources, our cultures and our narrative
we are still here.
Here
with names rich in everything they will never get their hands on. you see
this here poem is for Nyamai, Amara, Iman, Bakhita, Nyanagar and Nia. this here poem is for every black girl with names not safe enough for resumes.
next time when they open their privileged mouths and spit out the distorted sound of what is supposedly your name
let them know that your name
ain’t no game
and they will learn to say it right or
get fuck outta your sight.
About the author
Nyakour is an unapologetic 17-year-old African-Australian spoken word artist and poet. She is a pro-black intersectional feminist, tea drinking vegetarian goddess, with hella views on topics that effect not only herself but other people of colour. Her work is inspired by African culture, her environment and experiences as a young queer black woman living in Australia. For Nyakour poetry is a way of healing and connecting with others through words both written and spoken.