Actual African
By Akbar Imhotep
With a voice as soft
As virgin cotton
He let me know that
He was an Actual African
“What’s an ’Actual African’?,
I asked. Knowing deep in my
Soul what he meant.
He would never understand that
Our African-ness has not been
Beaten, drained and shamed
Out of some of us.
I walked away and allowed
The softness of his dagger
To linger near my heart.
Knowing that what you wear
On your body or around
Your neck doesn’t make
You African.
It comes from a deeper place
& accompanies you like a shadow
On a sunny day.
Yes, Mr. Cameroonian African,
I accept your actuality.
No. I wasn’t born on the continent
But the continent has been nurturing
Me since I met her.
No, I’m not an ‘Actual African’.
I’m a New Afrikan filled with the blood
& DNA of ‘Actual Africans’;
Baptized with the blood of
Ancient traditions & inspired by
The work & visions of New Afrikans.
His soft and gentle voice
Still resonates but causes no pain.
It only motivates a New Afrikan
Who has endured segregation,
Assimilation & attempted
Invalidation by Actual Africans.
By Akbar Imhotep
With a voice as soft
As virgin cotton
He let me know that
He was an Actual African
“What’s an ’Actual African’?,
I asked. Knowing deep in my
Soul what he meant.
He would never understand that
Our African-ness has not been
Beaten, drained and shamed
Out of some of us.
I walked away and allowed
The softness of his dagger
To linger near my heart.
Knowing that what you wear
On your body or around
Your neck doesn’t make
You African.
It comes from a deeper place
& accompanies you like a shadow
On a sunny day.
Yes, Mr. Cameroonian African,
I accept your actuality.
No. I wasn’t born on the continent
But the continent has been nurturing
Me since I met her.
No, I’m not an ‘Actual African’.
I’m a New Afrikan filled with the blood
& DNA of ‘Actual Africans’;
Baptized with the blood of
Ancient traditions & inspired by
The work & visions of New Afrikans.
His soft and gentle voice
Still resonates but causes no pain.
It only motivates a New Afrikan
Who has endured segregation,
Assimilation & attempted
Invalidation by Actual Africans.
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