In the midst of cannons roaring and swords clashing, 

I fought with bravery unyielding.

In this divided nation, 

Where freedom was merely a dream,

I fought for the future of myself that I am shielding. 

After the strenuous war,

I march from mourning mountains,

Stomped by colored soldiers.

The blazing sun shining from behind me,

The heat simmering on my shoulders.

I see the trampled flag in the distance.

I take a moment to pause in exhaustion. 

I look around to the soldiers who are left, 

And I appreciate my existence. 

Covered in dust, debris and despair, 

I see the feeble flag wave. 

I catch a glimpse of those around me,

With tears in the eyes of the brave. 

The ground is quiet,

There is barely any movement. 

I look to the white soldiers,

Who are here by recruitment. 

I am silenced by the counterfeit cries of the white soldiers,

“We finally won”

They cry in lively triumph.

I turn to them with a confused countenance. 

Because,

They have yet to comprehend what it means to win.

As an african american soldier,

I truly am the brave.

I am the unwanted soldier to the rest of society,

That walked the bloodstained pave. 

My skin may be of a darker hue,

My background different than yours. 

But my soul lies in the same place as the next,

So know that I have fought for freedom, justice, and so much more. 

I have served my country with honor and pride, 

But now, 

I am cast aside,

Pushed to the side. 

You claim that you have won, 

Yet you always have.

You know nothing about facing oppression.

You tell me to fix my face and close my lips, 

To not show aggression.

You have yet to understand the struggle,

To be an outsider to your own species. 

You have yet to comprehend the grapple in life,

And how it feels to be treated like a disease.

You have yet to understand the inequality I face everyday,

Just trying to survive. 

You would labor with our roles reversed,

So dont say “we won” when you have no idea what it’s like to live my life.