Tortilla Consciousness

I wrote this poem back in 2011, and it has proven its relevance throughout the years and in various contexts. Thought I'd share it here and make it accessible to those who might find some healing in these words.Tortilla Consciousnessstrip awaythe parts of meof which your statistical normsdon't seem to agree “peel my lovelike an onion”leaving a stench of injusticemisaligned with the values that are we hack away the leavesand destroy the seedsof consciousnessleave no trace of unacceptable unruliness shape, assess, and moldenforcing the status quotake comfort in diminishingdancing to a culture of zero tolerance mold into toxicitymaking it so that I can't breathepoison minds with doubtstifling sacred purpose throughout silence this ragethat I've honored within my spiritsilence this voicethat I've fine tuned over the yearsto articulate myself against the injusticeimposed by those who would beatmy soul into submissioncommand meto stand in linewith the others and lowermy eyesclosemy eyesto what is going onaround me strip me of my dignity?NO.Because I rise.I riselike a warm flour tortillabubbling on the comalready to create that comfortready to be more than just consumedturning my gifts into energyan energy that fuelsan energy that invigorates While Mami is making mambo,this mami is making revolution. Resisting your perfect formrefusing to becomea tool of your oppressionDeclining to recreate the injusticethat I seek to rise againstas I seek to enlist warriorsin a struggleas we build consciousness togethercreating a critical mass of critical minds We do not bow our headsremaining silentpassive to your efforts We speak, we rise, we shout, we standDemand and CommandDIGNITYINTEGRITYwith swagger.y que c/s