June 2024 Page 12 CDU Newsletter
Juneteenth Poem continued from page 7 ...
reveals , sip-n-sees , or trunk parties
Don ’ t judge our backyard boogies , crawfish boils , or “ I ’ m finna put something on the grill cause the sun is shining ”
Don ’ t judge our chitlins , pig feet , hog maws or oxtail
We know they ’ re the scraps , but we make ‘ em taste good though
Our history is in the seasoning Our trinity . Our bell pepper , onion , and celery So don ’ t judge our collard greens and ham hocks , our smothered cabbage , our turkey wings Our gumbos and jambalaya
Our history is in making the best out of what we ’ re left with Because even when it comes to resources
We are always the last to know
I hope one day CDU becomes officially recognized as an HBCU So we can stop fighting for our lives in TikTok comments where other universities are trying to steal our shine as the OG
As the original
An institution built on the backs of Black mothers who said “ Black child I see you ”
It ain ’ t fair though That an HBCU must be created in order to be in a space where people C U Because the only time THEY C U or want to C U Is when it leads to the green
Only then is when the little black boys and girls get to be seen So the only other option is to get it on your own
Or “ out the mud ”
Or like my cousin says “ get it how you live it ” Translation : By any means necessary
You could say its giving affirmative action but as we know they ended that resource like a year ago
Because THEY said its not fair to save a seat for you at our universities Even if we are the reason you lacked resources
So we strive and we thrive , we hustle and grind , Building our futures with our own hands and minds .
Out the mud , from the roots , we rise , With every struggle against resistance we become more and more wise .
Affirmative action ’ s been taken away , But we don ’ t let that dictate our way .
We create our own lanes , pave our own streets , Turn every challenge into victory , Because The Marathon Continues Turning every loss into feats .
We make a way where there seems to be none , Because resilience is a trait that ’ s second to none .
So as we gather here on the eve of Juneteenth , Let ’ s remember those two and a half years , Those countless fears , those hidden tears .
Let ’ s celebrate our strength , our spirit , our survival , Our journey , our legacy , our revival .
Because even when we ’ re the last to know , We ’ ll always be the first to believe , To hope , to dream , to achieve .
Here ’ s to us , to our history , to our future , Here ’ s to hopefully one day truly being seen .