They arrived in droves, valuable cargo.
Used for the well being of others
to plant and sow, shod our horses,
tend our fields and homes.
In their visibility they were anonymous.
They were bid upon and owned.
Free will shackled in irons,
inhumanity by humanity.
This is our history. Not sepia toned
nor romantically blurred by antiquity.
Not smudged as charcoal blends,
disappears into fine threads of vellum.
This is our history,
and I am ashamed.
Posted to dVerse where Bjorn is hosting OLN; opens at 3 PM Boston time.
No photo posted with this poem. Racism still lives and appears on nightly news. I crave the dream of Martin Luther King and pray for all our children, for a better, kinder, more just world.
lillian the home poet 
I think we all bear a guilt, but I’m horrified by all those who are not and want to revoke all the worst elements of the past.
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I agree.
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Remarkable poem Lillian. I feel badly about the past and the sins of those who used humans as money and profit. I don’t feel guilt at slavery, to be honest. My ancestors never bartered or bargained for humans nor used them to do work for them. But I do feel guilty about the Jim Crow laws enacted and how my ancestors were part of them.
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Thank you. I’ve had this poem in draft form for about two weeks. Was hesitant to post. It’s certainly received some interesting responses. I remember as a little girl driving from Illinois to Florida every summer to visit my grandmother — no airconditioning in the car. Windows rolled down. And not understanding why I had to drink from a particular drinking fountain.
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I know. I grew up with separate rest rooms, water fountains, back of the bus…the rule was separate but equal but it was far from equal. I refuse to take the white man’s burden for slavery but I do have guilt about Jim Crow. I think it is the trend for white folk to take on every giuilt around African Americans. When we all know the black slave owners were the worst masters. Wny not take on the guilt for the Nazi genocide of Jews? Why not take on the guikt for our genocide of and slavery of First Americans? There is certainly much to be ashamed of there yet they complain the least. So that is where I put my shame.
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Racism is certainly one of the darker demons that plagues mankind, from India’s caste system to the Middle East horrors to yes, our own history, ur own streets, hearts & minds. Living in the north woods, I have no familial shame, but I do have to deal with anger that persists as I watch the Klan & the Birchers clamor to Trump’s side, & watch perpetual riots post police brutality.
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Thank you for your read here, Glenn. Hatred being spewed is frightening.
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A shameful blot on our nation’s history that cannot be erased…and sadly, we still have racism and injustice.
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Yes.
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Excellent treatment of a difficult and important subject.
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Thank you, Linda.
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A worthy tribute to the dark days that seem never to recede but are freshly washed ashore with each turn of the news cycle.
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…yes. And 24/7 news means we see each action over and over and over and over. I am fearful for the divisiveness that seems to have ripped apart in this country.
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I think it has only accelerated what was already present.
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I agree with Linda, Lillian. You have expressed this difficult topic delicately. I particularly like the lines:
‘This is our history. Not sepia toned
nor romantically blurred by antiquity.
Not smudged as charcoal blends,
disappears into fine threads of vellum.’
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Thank you, Kim. I’ve held on to this post for quite some time. It has certainly received a myriad of reactions. I appreciate your kind response.
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Well done, I hear cries in this… There will always be conflict in this world. The best we can do seems so small that we rarely do it – take responsibility for own our thoughts, beliefs, and actions.
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I agree. Thank you for your response. I appreciate it.
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So very powerful, Lillian.
This is our history. Not sepia toned
nor romantically blurred by antiquity.
Not smudged as charcoal blends,
disappears into fine threads of vellum.
Sadly, history in every country is laced with injustice and prejudice. Great title that expresses with clarity the theme of your poem.
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Thank you, Victoria. Yes…and there are so many other aspects of our history that are troubling: Wounded Knee, Japanese Internment camps, Jim Crow. I fear we are on a precipice now…
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This is very powerful, and timely.
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Thank you. Truly appreciate your words here.
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A very meaningful and timely share Lillian. Sadly it is very much alive and we are all guilty of it. Love the ending lines.
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Thank you, Grace. Your reply is heartening. I appreciate it.
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Mixed emotions – its far more complicated than this… blacks sold blacks, many whites fought to free blacks. Yes, racism of all kinds exist – and some refuse to pull themselves up by their own boot straps. The problem is today we want to blame one thing – and refuse to see outside the “tv” box. “romantically blurred” is often the history we are fed and believe. There really is more good than bad I believe – its just that the focus is never on it. I do like your poem – It brings up a LOT of things to discuss, doesn’t it?
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Yes. It is far more complicated than this — but for me, poetry expresses feelings and pieces of truth. Thank you for your read.
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Not sepia toned
nor romantically blurred by antiquity.
Not smudged as charcoal blends,
disappears into fine threads of vellum…. very strong write. Nicely done.
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Thank you. Very much appreciate your words here.
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A very emotional piece. The ending was so strong and I do feel that as ancestors of those who have done wrong, we can feel the shame and guilt. It is not deliberate, it is not necessarily who we are as individuals, evolved, educated or enlightened….but it is where we come from, which is often hard to accept.
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Thank you so very much for your thoughtful read and candid reply. It is truly appreciated.
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I wish Martin Luther King were here today. We could use him to heal the divide that seems to be yawning ever wider.
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He’s here. You just don’t see him.
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He is present in many —
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Yes!
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These are my favorite lines:
“In their visibility they were anonymous.”
“This is our history. Not sepia toned”
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Thank you. Sadly, this is our history…albeit one small piece of it.
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I’m with Margaret on this issue. It’s complex, but for those of us who live in Black communities ( I do and have for 45 years) it’s a mixed bag. I see the racism of Blacks towards, whites, Jews, Asians, etc…almost every day. It’s a knee jerk response brought about by ignorance.
This week, on my street, 5 young thugs beat up a middle aged man with a cast on his leg. All black, and the police? Did nothing. My neighbors were threatened by these thugs when they went to intervene…were told to keep their asses on their porches. Until there is some higher morality guiding all races, this crap will continue. When we turn a blind eye on this behavior from this generation, we continue its effects.
However, that doesn’t dismiss the power of your poem.
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I am sorry you’ve had these experiences.
Yes. It is a complex issue. I actually wrote this two weeks ago and held on to it because I knew it would bring a variety of responses. I write to express my thoughts, feelings, observations; my past, my present; metaphorically, practically. I write to have my words accessible…even though they may be understood in a myriad of ways.
These are my thoughts on one aspect of a very complex history of actions in this country. One could write about Wounded Knee, about Japanese Internment camps, about many complex issues and touch only on one crimped edge of it.
Once we let our words leave our mouths, our pens, our keyboards, they are open to interpretation by others who may very well come to them with an entirely different set of experiences. This is true of the paintbrush and any type of human gesture.
Thank you for your read and your response.
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Oh so very moving.
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SMiLes.. my FriEnd Lillian..
haven’t done an open prompt
night in months.. but came by
for an eclectic mix of muse..
and the comments
here certainly
FeeL the
atmosphere of
thaT.. a greatest lesSon
i lEarned was from the military..
just working for the Navy as civilian
for a quarter of a century.. everyone was
noted to bleed the same color.. and it was
amazing how everyone.. and i do mean everyone
treated each other as a shipmate.. just a few miles
North in a place named Jay.. until just a couple of
decades ago.. still in the 90’s.. it was a place
where the veteran shipmates warned
their fellow African
American friends
not to
go
after dark..
i for one.. will
bleed now with shipmates
my friend.. and sadly the truth
is.. ‘that good book’ was used
to substantiate the ‘good’ of slavery..
Now that homosexual individuals are
finally able to get legal marriage rights..
from the same part of ‘the Good book’
that used to give credence
to slavery too..
the Declaration
of Independence finAlly
is applying to all as Lord
kNows.. outcast status for any
social animal is a form of slavery..
as bad as shackles as it prevents the
pursuit of Life as Liberty and Happiness…
Yes.. as Shawna said above.. aka LZ.. Martin Luther King
sTiLL
Reigns
in eYes
that see
sKin as Free..
bEyond words
and books of before.. My FriEnd..
wE bleed.. we bleed toGetHer FReED..
and truly there are so many forms of ‘invisible’
slavery heir apparent to the rabbit who still moves..
like classrooms and work attached to StiLL and stagnate..
but ha..
that could
be another
NoveL..and
WiNks not
here
foR
noW..
isn’t this great fun..
being ReTired with
so much new tREad to sHare..
and i swear i could have never
done any of this in that Government
place of slavery in stagnate Golden CuFFS
to
escape
not only
slavery but
literal prison..
as i can still remember
the Captain of the base storming
through.. demanding that the blinds
be turned one way.. without a dare
at her power that had no oversight..
so many paths.. to slavery.. mY FriENd..
And as the Matrix says.. many people
have no clue wHeRe they are2..
so
hard
it can
be.. to unplug..
as alWays.. thanks
for the inspiration too.. my FriENd..:)
Signed..
N..
for
Neo..;)
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Fabulous and remarkable writing–tough subject, and I, too, long for MLK’s dream to be realized.
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A never ending story where one who wields power would like it to be sustained and abhors the meek protestations of the deprived but with high-handed actions. A brave take Lillian!
Hank
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Strong and powerful words here. I cannot comprehend those that don’t see this abuse of power for what it is, and feel no shame.
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Brave to tackle such a hard subject. The last two lines are powerful.
My favorite line: In their visibility they were anonymous.
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That was touching, a piece like none I’ve read
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