A People's Guide to History (Poem)

We are the mammals that were crushed to death by a large mountain hurtling down from the sky

Burning and dying on the earth’s surface

We are the harmless herbivores that were eaten by the large dinosaurs, crocs, sharks, tigers, humans, and creatures that that were larger than us.

We are the hunters that were killed by the mammoths, tigers, bears, and lions in the hopes to use them for food and clothing for our families dependent on us

We are the women that had died giving birth to children; dispensing gifts of life while departing from it at the same time.

We are the Inuit people and vagabonds that froze to death during the great ice age; bodies being buried and submerged into everlasting winter

We are the Hebrew slaves that were defeated by back-breaking labor and carrying large sand; a sacrifice the Pharaoh was willing to make

We are the philosophical Athen warriors that were slain by the barbaric Spartans; birthed from a society that valued education and art over wars and violence.

We are the sickly Spartan babies and children that were thrown off a cliff and fell to their deaths; not able enough to be a warrior, but maybe able enough to be a scientist or a writer.

We are the privileged and spoiled kings, queens, and monarchs be-headed by the tired and beaten working class at the Guillotines of France.

We are the families that were burned alive during Pompei.

We are the peasants dying from a mysterious disease as the priests attempt to pray the sickness away and trust in their superstition

We are the Moors and Muslims killed by the Crusaders for ownership of the holy land in Jerusalem despite the 7th commandment that is present in both religions

We are the “harlot” and “slutty” and “mischievous” women burned at the stake for being accused of witchcraft; the wrong religion for the wrong time.

We are the African tribes that were killed and captured by the British and European forces.

We are the soldiers and grunts killed in wars and battles that we could not have possibly predicted or understand the reasoning behind

We are the slaves that were tortured and whipped into being sub-human, domestic pets, live stock

We are the confederate soldiers fighting and dying for the right to keep a corrupt and in-humane system where the darker-complexioned are forced to work

We are the Marxists and communists fighting and dying to destroy a class system where the majority is kept hungry, mal-nourished, and under the hammer of the elite

We are the Jewish families that were burned and shot by the words of a man who knew what to say to give himself power and influence

We are the Japanese-American families that were kept in concentration camps out of fear and paranoia in the name of liberty

We are the Latinos and Latinas that were arrested for attempting to live in the “Land of the free”

Only to work low-paying jobs and be called criminals and by racist authority figures

We are the lower class whites that had been disillusioned and led astray by the racists conservatives that Mexicans and black people were the problem; when really the problem was/is capitalism and the fat cats on top

We are the beautiful black transwomen that were beaten and killed for simply existing and trying to make a living; only loved and appreciated on porn websites and as sex objects

We are the talented, artistic, and intuitive women in the entertainment industry that have been taken advantage by powerful men wanting to get their quick nut

We are the children that have been taken advantage by priests pastors, and other “Holy men” who had taken an oath of celibacy

We are the soldiers killed in combat out of fear of losing oil and capital

We are the gay teens and young feminine boys that have killed themselves for fear of not being accepted by a heteronormative society that values masculinity

We are the suffering black kids with mental health issues that weren’t taken seriously enough before we decided to end our pain

We are the people that were the casualties of major changes in history

We are the victims of those that oppressed us or helped to oppress us.

Make sure you know our stories.

Amen