USA Africa Dialogue Series - Okafor: In Memory of George Floyd

In Memory of George Floyd

I want to breathe
But I cant breathe

I could not see his face
His knee was on my neck
Life was going fast away from my soul
I want to breathe
But I can't breathe

46yrs ago, I learnt my first word
Mama! mama! mama!
25th May 2020,I spoke my last word
Mama! mama! mama!
And I still pleaded because
I want to breathe
But I cant breathe

My color was black
His color was white
My crime was black
His right was white
I still want to breathe
But I cant breathe

Minneapolis is burning
Real Americans are angry
The world is shocked in disbelief
Because I wanted to breathe
But i cant breathe
They were four of them
Four messengers of death

I saw the face of my wife
I felt the smiles of my kids
I remembered my friends
For their sake
I just needed to breathe
But I cant breathe

I asked for water
The pain was getting more
My neck hurts
My stomach hurts
My eyes were closed in agony
My offence again?
My color was black
His color was white

I have paid the price
Price of being black
Cry no more Minneapolis
I was one of the added numbers
My blood on that pavement
Will always remember that
I wanted to breathe
But I had no right to breathe

My offence again?
My color was black
My name George Floyd
My crime was black
His color was white
His name Derek Chauvin
His right was white
He has the right to breathe

I want to breathe
I can't breathe!
But someday this battle shall
Be over.
I go in peace but remember
25th May 2020
Mama!mama!mama!
My last word!

-Collins Okafor

#ICantBreathe


Sent from my iPhone

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