Page 115 - Poems by Alyson Malach - Childhood to Adulthood

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In streets where shadows intertwine, Stop and search, a bleak design,

For British Black, Caribbean, African, mixed heritage and Asian lives

they see, Statistics show harsh inequality.

For every white face passing by, six times more, they question why,

The Black and Brown are often stopped, Injustice grows, a constant crop.

In hospitals where life begins, Maternity’s touch sometimes thins,

For mothers Black and Asian too, Higher risks, the numbers grew.

In the cradle, in the womb, Danger casts a silent gloom,

Deaths of mothers, babes in arms, A haunting list of health alarms.

In workplaces, dreams should soar, Yet racism’s undercurrent roars,

Microaggressions, blatant spite, Injustice hides in broad daylight.

Exclusions from the schools they tread, More likely if their skin is shed

In shades of Brown or Black, it’s clear, Decades-long, instilling fear.

In homes they seek, the bias reigns, Discrimination, housing pains,

In education, jobs denied, Equality’s promise often lied.

Some protest, claim it’s unfair, say whites face bias, unaware,

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