Outskirts Press, INC.

“Why Must I Be, ‘Black?’”

“Who am I? Black. Like a veil over my eyes, I seek but shall not find what lies deep within my mind that answer. What am I? Black. Surrounded on all sides, attacked relentlessly by sharp minds, cutting glances, and forked tongues. Wherein resides a soul gasping for the relief that would breathe the air back into my lungs.”

Questions such as these and many like them that open the mind to think more critically were all the norm when sitting around the dinner table on Sunday evenings. As one would embark upon the journey of introspection and philosophical exploration, the mind opens itself to new levels of understanding and self-discovery. This is exactly what happened, to me.

A Message to our Grandkids is not your ordinary compilation of poems. Although each piece can be enjoyed if read to oneself, they are written with the intent to be read aloud and imbued with power from the human voice. So read on, speak up, and listen out for the discovery that lays ahead.