We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar We wear the mask that grins and lies,It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—This debt we pay to human guile;With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why should the world be over-wise,In counting all our tears and sighs?Nay, let them only see …

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Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson Lift every voice and sing,Till earth and heaven ring,Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;Let our rejoicing riseHigh as the list’ning skies,Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,Sing a song full of the …

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say it with your whole black mouth by Danez Smith say it with your whole black mouth: i am innocent & if you are not innocent, say this: i am worthy of forgiveness, of breath after breath i tell you this: i let blue eyes dress me in guiltwalked around stores convinced the very skin …

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The Contract Says: We’d Like the Conversation to be Bilingual by Ada Limón When you come, bring your brown-ness so we can be sure to please the funders. Will you check thisbox; we’re applying for a grant. Do you have any poems that speakto troubled teens? Bilingual is best. Would you like to come to …

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My America (For Hugh Downs) by Nikki Giovanni Not a bad country…neither the best nor the worst…just a placewe call home…and we open the door…to the tired and thepoor…to the huddled masses yearning…to be free…to thosein need…because we need…to be needed Not a bad country…but adolescently indifferent…with timerunning out…on our innocence Not a bad country…but …

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