The voice of my ancestors

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of great kings and queens,
Whose stories were erased, whose empires were plundered.
The voice of rulers whose kingdoms were torn apart,
Riches stolen, splendor drowned by men with boats.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of the woman who wept for her son,
Torn from her arms and taken to a place unknown.
The voice of the woman who watched helplessly,
As her warrior fell, slaughtered like prey,
As her family unraveled before her eyes.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of the man who could not protect his wife,
Nor his own life.
Once strong, now broken,
Bearing a badge of shame.
The man who fought and yet watched his brothers sold.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of the child,
Whose father was murdered,
Whose mother was defiled,
Whose world was shattered.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of the baby born at sea,
Bathed in blood, wrapped in tears,
Cradled by lullabies of pain,
And melodies of sorrow.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of the people whose only crime was love,
Whose sin was their humanity.
The voice of those who perished
On the road to death.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of those whose hands Belgium claimed,
Whose bodies became gold.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of the oppressed, enslaved, beaten, and broken,
The voice of those whose souls were stolen.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of those shackled in chains,
Hunted by guns,
The millions who perished at sea,
Whose blood built the world you see.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of those who dreamed light in darkness,
Who sang praises in sorrow,
And hoped for a tomorrow.

I am the voice of my ancestors.
The voice of those who fought and never won,
Like Moses, the promised land forever out of reach.

I am the voice of Steve Biko’s black pride.
I am the voice of Malcolm X’s blackness.
I am the voice of Thomas Sankara’s Africanism.
I am the voice of those you silenced with death.

Can you hear them?