Resistance to the Strong Black Woman Mantra

From birth we are nurtured to never show signs of weakness

because America was built on our fore-mothers' backs

and they did not break.

They bore children to a man that was never theirs

Had to lie on their backs

and brace themselves against the abuse 

that was thrust through her body.

She hurt but she did not cry.

We are told to never let a man violate

that which is most sacred

and to never believe what he appears to be.

Little girl, they say, you don't know what love is

You have all the time in the world for all of that.

What got me was that if I got my little heart broken

I better not show him that he hurt me.

Let no straw break your back.

But I loved someone whom at one point loved me too.

Let me cry a little.