Black Poets Society: ‘Who’s Jennifer?’

By Zahara Tadesse The Black Lens

What’s good everybody, i’m Z how are y’all doin today…

oh-no, im so sorry

Hello everyone, my names Jennifer thats what i was supposed to say

cause jennifer masks the puppet whos string you pull everyday

the one you yank left and right and she’ll do whatever you say

she even softens my voice, so they can’t take my words in an aggressive way

(but you still do)

she’s the way you seem to prefer

because you act like you own her

and treat her as you please

cause you’re on top of the world–

and i’m beneath

But who’s Jennifer really?

Jennifer is the one who leaves MY bag at the front counter when asked

because i just wanted a bag hot fries

I was gonna steal I promise I just got out of class

but she fears the situation so she complies

but me? the one underneath im tired of complying

Now Who’s Jennifer really?

the one who still listens to your demands who still listens to your commands

to avoid the escalation and where your hands might land

She’s the one who didn’t let me cry

who dodged your spit

the one who let it slide

but me? the one underneath im tired of letting it slide

Jennifers a facade i cant escape

she thinks she gains respect but see thats her mistake

cause see Jennifer just ignores all the white noise

because no matter how white she tries to make her voice

the truth is me? the one on the outside i really dont have a choice

Jennifers who society TRIED to shape me to be

Jennifers who the white man TRIED to tell how to speak

Jennifers another tool they use to prevent us from being free

another version of what they’ve been doing for centuries

but still-

she makes me smile through your belittlement

she’ll widen my eyes so i look a little more innocent

she’ll ignore your words because the pain is infinite

but me? the one on the outside, the one behind the mask, the puppet with your hand down her throat-

choking out a bright ball of light, because beyond a flock of vultures we’ll always take flight

i see better with dark chocolate as my iris, it’s quite the sight

cause dark chocolate feels safer than the blue ocean of power conquering all good bite by bite

now-my real eyes realize your real lies

cause’ the truth is they were not that hard to find

i see-…

you clutch your pearls, because you’re afraid

because!-black joy sparks lighter than the sun on its brightest day

because!-black joy ignites a fire that threatens you tourists

because!- let’s not forget this was never your forest…?

to begin with.

and Jennifer i burn you in that fire too

because all she does is shelter my brain from the truth

because im done playin your sick game designed for me to lose

because no matter what it’s always somethin new

you’ll find safety in my danger

you’ll find comfort in my discomfort

you’ll find rage in my calm

you’ll find hate in my smile

you find volume in my mute

Cause Jennifer’s a survival tactic I’ve learned to use

but i want to do more than just exist within the limits you allow me to

i said i want to do more than just survive

But not js yet can we live our lives

cause its all on us to fix ur corrupt system right…

so what is good everybody, my name is Z

im the one whos she doesnt allow to get angry

So goodbye Jennifer, dont let door hit ya when you leave

cause you are only a product of the poison they’ve been feeding me

oh no im so sorry, something came over me clearly

cause how dare you call someone like Jennifer anything other than so so pretty.