thelesbianlifestyle.com

This was written in loving memory of Sakia Gunn. A 15 yr old girl that was murdered on this day 6 years ago. I will forever carry her memory in my soul.

Sakia’s Sister

by: Nykieria Chaney

I am Sakia’s Sister

Maybe not in similar reflections

Or bloodlines

I did not pass through her mama’s womb

No genetically connected DNA

But I am Sakia’s Sister

Running through the streets of Newark , NJ

From Springfield

On to Broadway

Learning that the streets don’t love nobody

Swallowing girlish ambitions to persuade from not seeming hard enough

Finding no resting or embracing place

I am Sakia’s Sister

From Penn Newark To Penn New York Station

Where Greenwich Village becomes my heart

As I’m not judged or looked at differently

Just young and vibrant

Just free

No worries

Not afraid riding the train back and forth

In improperly manned subway stations

Where even the bums sleep with one eye open

No worries

Until one night

Some villain less than a man decided it was alright

To take young Sakia’s life

They called it an instigated combat

Even when a 30 year old man stuck a knife

In a 15 year old girls neck

And claimed her life

On the streets in front of a police booth

As taxis sped by

Silent witnesses to a Hate filled homicide

Her blood just as pure and innocent as young Matthew Sheppard

But she didn’t make national headlines

Just a few local stations and gay organizations bold enough to carry her story

On day to day

And I too have been stabbed in the back

With verbal and physical attacks

As my bloodlines

Run thinner than strangers lives I cross in the street

Separating me from family and used to be friends

As I grow lost and hurt

Finding solitude amongst the warm folds

Of another woman’s womb

Licking invisible wounds

From my lovers back

Down her chest

Across her heart

Absorbing pain

Caused by people releasing homophobic views

And passing them off as state beliefs

Damn it I am Sakia’s Sister

In spirit and heart

Crying enough tears in the dark

To form valleys and trenches

Upon my pillow and satin bed sheets

Yet just like Sakia,

My spirit can not be silenced

I stand tall and proud of who I am

Ready to proclaim that my sexuality

Does not define me

In the face of adversity

I stand tall and defend

My lovers and/or friends

I stand tall for all of the women and men that still haven’t found the courage

To leave those closets and double lives

Down low men & women

Military men & women

I speak proudly to all who attempt to make me feel like I’m less that I am

As if I don’t belong

But we are here to stay and we will not stand for discrimination

Or hate crimes

We will not live our lives in secret

Out & Proud

Young

Black

Lesbian

I am Sakia’s Sister