Black Screen

- inspired by Us (dir. Jordan Peele, 2019)

THEN
To the fair!

When the fair comes to Fultondale, 
you go. Line up in the parking lot 
between Jack’s & China 1. 
Funnel cake & popcorn cravings. 
Wisps of cotton candy red
in your mouth. You’re not afraid 
of portable rides. Watch out 
for your little sister.

NOW
To the movies! 

It’s fun to watch people 
in the dark. People pretending 
to be people. Big as the screen, 
​small as the script: building
character. A black woman 
watches black girls watch 
each other in the dark. 
They are watching us. 

Do black girls live?

What will happen 
to black girls 
in a funhouse?

What will happen 
to black girls 
who are going

Downstairs, seeing themselves 
       Upstairs, freeing themselves 
            Upstairs, greeting themselves
                 Downstairs, beating themselves 
​
?  ?  ? 
They forgot us.
...
Published in perhappened mag