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Intention

What fuels the hubris of racism 
other than the people's refusal 
to confront the intentional history
of crafting the white supremacy lie? 

The lies of the colonizers became
the constructed sins of the nation 
as they were crafted with the intention 
of being an expanding yoke of injustice. 

The yoke's intentional lies produce
absurd but commonly accepted untruths 
fostering actions, both committed and omitted,
of reinforced oppression, privilege, and shame.

Instead of aspiring for justice, 
the dominant group ignores calls
for resolution and dismissively bequeaths
the unjust yoke to the intentions of tomorrow.

The weight of yesteryear's enshrined sin
is today's burden of lived experience
until you give intention to the heavy lifting
required to dismantle the lies supporting the yoke.

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