The Original Fly

Miss Susie Pride, 

Miss Minnie Freeman, 

& Miss Savannah Bruce.

Walking like emancipation,

Smiling like no work on Saturdays,  

Y'all must have been the baddest trinity around.

They say y'all just got free.

I don’t believe ‘em. 

Too fly. 

Rainbow dresses with the hat to match,

Fanning yourselves like you just too cool,

Y'all are the original hood princesses. 

Been free. 

Maybe not in condition, 

but definitely in style.

Awaiting your moment to stunt on ‘em—

Real quick

I know y'all was planning for this. 

That white lady, Abbie Brooks, was mad as hell.

looked at y'all and had the nerve to say,

that your fly was an “eyesore.”

Hating has been alive and well. 

She said, 

“Their appearance is unmistakably African”

Said y’all walked with a “swaggering air,”

Maybe. 

But she got one thing absolutely correct, 

Abbie said your sight would

“inspire the most casual observer with a feeling of contempt and rebellion”

Black life.

Black style.

Black finesse.

Black joy.

Black fly.

Black slay.

Has always been rebellion. 

Uppity? 

Maybe.

But now y'all got the freedom to be. 

Bye, Abbie.