Article Submitted by Dr. Tunishai Ford
THE SPIRIT IN YOU
A BLACK MAN PRAYER
I ran across this poem as I was going through my files and I thought it would be befitting for this issue. It is a tribute and encouragement to the Black man who for so long has been scorned and torn down and misunderstood. I hope that when you read this poem, it will make you shout and say-Amen. This poem was written for the Black man from a Black woman. The poem is for a mature reader and it is not my intention to offend anyone. It is provocative but heartfelt, and I hope you will appreciate the message in which the writer of this poem intended to convey.
"Black Man Prayer"
-- Author Unknown
God please let this man have the
poise of Denzel Washington,
the confidence of Malcolm X,
for he needs to know his greatness
as a Black man,
the body of Sampson, and the mental capacity of Martin Luther King Jr.
God please let this man understand that before he makes love (not have sex)
to my body, he needs to make love to my
mind first. Let him know that as black a black woman, I have to be strong everyday to accomplish the goals my goals too, therefore his touch should be soft and compassionate not hard and
forceful. Make him understand that I don't want to feel raped by his touch but adored by his caresses.
Let him know that he should
not take the little things like
a phone call and I miss you
for granted, for if he does, they will be gone and then they will seem
like big things to him.
Make it known to him that when
he's alone around his friends,
I am not a female dog, whore, or slut,
but I am every woman from his mother
to grandmother and when he calls
me out of my name,
he's also calling them out of theirs.
Let him understand to be worshipped
as my king, he must in return treat me
as his Queen.
Let him know I am like a
flower, his love, attention and
support will help me grow, but
neglect, deceit and mistrust will
kill me.
Last, but the most important of
all. Let his faith in you be strong.
So that if I cannot help him
through pain-
YOU CAN.