Historical Presence
by Tsuhai Nzinga
It’s the presence of history
We witnessed today
It’s the presence of hate
Born a long ago yesterday
It was nothing new
To people who know its wrath
For history is rife
Of this history’s warpath
It is the presence of history
That we saw in the streets
Demanding its hate
Be allowed to unleash
It was nothing new
To those who know its wrath
We hear it called ‘civil’ war
When its white being attacked.
The presence of history
Mocked us today.
Stood in our face
And dared us to sway.
The hate took to the street
Pounding pavement, doors and walls
The hate took to the street
White clad and thousands strong
The hate has evolved
Beyond the sheets and burning cross
And history hit the streets today
Because the Civil War was lost.
It is the presence of this history
Of ‘civility’ as Blacks have known it
It is the presence of this history
Of the white that refuses to own it.
It is the presence of this history
That finds us here today
It is the presence of this history
That stormed Democracy this day.
Let us never forget
That Black folk already know.
The hate you felt and saw today
Is but a fraction of what hate sows
Tsuhai Nzinga
