As mainstream media begins to slacken its coverage of the Black Lives Matter protests that are taking place across the world, the movement continues to rage as people of colour demand that their stories be heard. With many veterans of activism telling tales of civil rights protests that date back to our grandparents’ generation, it’s clear that there’s a serious need for systemic change in the world’s approach to racism – and it needed to happen yesterday.
We’ve curated a list of incredibly powerful poems that depict both the internal and external struggles of being a person of colour, from 1926 to today, with hopes that they will inspire, uplift, and stir people to action.