105. Change the American Flag? (A poem)

Macy Gray sparked a great debate about the need to change the American flag. It inspired me to write and record this poem: Red, white, and blue, red, white, and blue What about that red, white, and you? What about that red, white, and me too? Do you see me when you look at Old Glory? Do those 13 stripes fully tell Mystory or HIStory? Is there any room for HERstory? And of course I’m talking beyond Betsy Ross Like Kochiyama, Sotomayor, Tara Houska, and Rosa Parks Can I still sing the Star Spangled Banner if black lives don’t matter? But back to the flag, I know that all races here fought for it I know that all religions here prayed for it I know that our Jewish family was anti-semitized for it I know that our Muslim family was 911’ed and despised for it I know that Native Americans endured a lot of pain for it I know that too many white people were slain for it I know that millions of black people were enslaved for it. I know that Asian Americans were interned for it I know that Hispanic Americans were deferred for it I know that men’s rights over women’s rights were preferred for it I know that differently abled family crawled up Capitol steps for it I know that our LGBTQ+ family loved in secret and wept for it But yet it still represents us all? So maybe that flag should really be overhauled Maybe it’s time to darken some of those stars Maybe those white stripes need to be off-white To reflect how in our search for purity, we didn’t always get it right Maybe the red stays to represent the blood of the slain So they wouldn’t have died in vain Maybe that blue stays to remind us to keep our skies blue So we can breathe fresh air as we embrace every hue And before you shout me down for writing this rhyme Remember that the flag has already been changed over 20 times When I look at America today, the flag seems outdated Might be time for our flag to show that all Americans are celebrated and not tolerated. STAY CONNECTED: Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/omekongo Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/omekongo Facebook | http://www.facebook.com/omekongo Website | http://www.omekongo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices