Change Poem by sydney conteh

Change happens by want or by need.
George Floyd changed by need.
Philando Castile changed by need.
In writing this I had to search all the black lives that have needed to die to cause change by need.


Tombstones should not cause or force change.
Black blood should not be shed to force change.
Black tears should not be needed to force change.
The words 'I can not breathe' should not be needed to force change.
The sad thing is all these have been needed to cause a change.


My sweetest dreams are those where black suffering is not the fuel for societal change.
But instead, black voices become the fuel for societal change.
This is just a dream though.
One day I hope it will become a reality.