I am an African Man 

I am a Man 

Does it really matter? 

You said I am a black man 

Yet, when I look in the mirror, all I see is a Man 

You even said I was half a man 

And treated me worse than your domestic animal 

You called me names that I didn’t even know existed  

You lied to me, cheated me, frustrated life out of me, hurt me, dragged me in the mud, or behind your pick-up truck, diminished me, hung me and ultimately killed me 

Still, when I look in the mirror  

I can’t help what I see  

For I still see a Man 

You twisted my story, changed my name, used me, and disposed of me like mere toilet paper 

You raped my mother, my sister, my daughter, my lover, my friend, and even me too for crying out loud 

You robbed me of my dignity, my humanity, and my body 

But you could never touch 

My Soul 

My Spirit 

My Manhood 

Because God, who created me, resides, and had always resided in me all along 

And He made sure, that my Soul will never be touched…