What Is My Ethnic Name and Who Are the Namers

I arose a proud African lineage from far Mid Northern, Southern, Western;
                      Stolen, Trick, Bought given to the Slave traders;
                                                                I have a many names then
       I had my Father's name
       I had my tribal  name and maybe even county name WOW?
       Who are these namers and what do they want?
       Brought to a new land over the oceans many waters;
       What is the meaning of this;
                                                               Don't know their language;
       Made me forget mine;
                                                               I can stand it;
                       I don't remember what is my name;
                                                               How do I get back home?
                                           Why is it
       Most races have a primary name for there ethnicity;
       Who are these namers and what do they want?
                           Now from Slave time to the 1800's
       May have been called African even ***** even the "N" word
       One hundred years later someone changed it to Colored
       Then again fifty more years came may have went back to Colored;
       As the 1960's came someone said we were *****'s, 
                                                          Said we were Blacks
       Never giving up the "N" words couldn't git to relax;
                          Who are the Namers and what do they want; 
       And why are we the only race whose name gets changed every decade;
       Spanish and French words for the darkest colors is ..........
       Later sixties early seventies the Namers 
                                                    started calling us Afro-Americans;
       Then later reverted to Blacks, every now and then seems like they      
                                         revisited  Black and briefly Colored;
       So just who am I on the census polls, cause it just don't make any sense;
       Now to the mid-seventies again African Americans every one watching   
                                             Roots by Alex Haley
       But whom am I, who am I still I cry, I don't no my name
       every ten years or so you just change it again, where have I been;
       Still the census, don't make sense The Namers are still at it;
       a decade rolls by and again seems like I don't know why;
                               What is my ethnic and who are the Namers;
       again and again seems every decade, decade, you change my name
       over and over again so it seems from the 1980's until the 2000's;
       We may have arrived but yet it was repeated once again;
                                       Blacks, African Amercians;
       Now not to sound confused nor disrespectful to our new Americans
                      Those of  Togo, Sudan, and other African regions;
       As they come over to America and become Citizens they still have their
        handle, title, country, personal name history/ origin;
       You, I , they are called African Americans, yet still so am I 
                                So we both are but yet why do I cry;
        For you see they know their True name while I just get by
                                                   Who am I
                                                   Who am I 
             Just as Ask the Namers, who are they you wonder, you ask
                                  They know who they are;
                                   I wish I knew who I was;
            Again we are the only race whose name you keep changing
                                   They know who they are;
                                   I wish I knew who I am;
                    Maybe in 2020, we be Colored again? ? ? ?
       

                     written by James Edward Lee Sr.(c)2017
               Dedicated to All those Oppress people Pass, Present Future
        The Hopeless, the Homeless, the Father/Mother less, Those without  
                                        their natural country
        
           "there's praise in words and words in praise"---James Edward Lee Sr.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 7/9/2017 1:28:00 PM
Powerful and exceptional pearls of truths on display in this brilliantly expressed poem, James. I feel you on this poem, 100 percent totally. Me being a Judeo-Africano, I know how they always changed my ancestors the Hebrews' name. Like they did Daniel and his three friends. Like they did the kings of Israel and Judah. Great poem. Love and peace always and forever.
Login to Reply
Lee Sr. Avatar
James Edward Lee Sr.
Date: 7/25/2017 5:39:00 PM
Thanks a platant reality No one talks about. We're (to my knowledge the only race/nationality not named of our own self) And the unknown author of this function seems to (seems like) rename us every ten to fifteen years a new name. Blessing to you sir thanks again for the read and encouragement. --- James
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter