Dealt with a rough hand by the way society is structured
Because you are black you are at a disadvantage
Is what they told me
I mean I am black in White America, but hardly paid the color green
I have a problem with a lot of what you said
I am not a product, I am done being someone else’s second option
My body is not a product
It’s so easy to respect sex workers, I like women and I’m surrounded by loneliness constantly
To take the blame off of them and put it on me is ridiculous
Fuck them, and that way of thinking
Me showing my body doesn’t deem me less deserving of respect than a woman or a person who doesn’t. period
It’s great that you respect what I do, but your view of me is shit
Comparing me to junk food doesn’t seem like respect at all, and people aren’t products that others can just consume
Of exploitation comes the confines of Abraham’s proclamation
Towards the wilderness’s deforestation
To the fields of slavery deportation
James Earl Ray will attempt to assassinate my declaration
Byron De La Beckwith will attempt to lynch my message from American’s legislation
Do you remember Hariette Moore and Harry?
Because you are black you are at a disadvantage, does that sentence seem scary?
The FBI used COINTLPRO agents
And now that Malcolm’s dead we wonder why from the White Man’s station
Society, and men especially should encourage women to advocate for themselves
It’s important to let women know that they have a voice and that they have a right to tell men that they are not comfortable with being treated inappropriately
Therefore, women must begin to feel more confident, not only with expressing consent, but for voicing their own opinions too
— Darrell Herbert
Darrell Herbert is a recipient of a National Silver Medal and Gold Key, presented by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2014. His poetry has been featured in numerous publication such as Writers- Black Artists Connected Blog, Yellow Chair Review, and Media Blast Press.