for duanna johnson

a picture of duanna johnson

sister, i am angry
furious at your death
upset with my own foolishness in celebrating him
while you die in the streets

with beatings, with violence left on your beautiful brown skin
with the names, the silence, the mainstream media lies
they refuse to let us ever forget that
guns penetrating our backs, we are always standing at the cliff of our own mortality

sister, i am in mourning
lighting a candle, i read this poem into the glimmering light
my poem is a prayer for you,
for the others i will never have the opportunity of knowing, and for the friends who mourn your death today
we will not forget. we will speak your name.

you said no!, you would not let police brutality and violence against transgender women of color fade into an invisible cloud of silence
you said no…
and now you are gone.

you are gone
but we will not forget.
the anger, the connection, the injustice just cuts too deep.
instead we will carry your name on our tongue
your bravery in our own ribcage
your memory in our work
we will wear red everyday
remembering you
and countless of others

we will not forget, sister.

Posted by cripchick at 12:28 am on November 12th, 2008. 6 comments... »
Categories: queer, race, violence, women of color.

6 comments.

  1. thank you for these words.

    Posted by Noemi M on November 12th, 2008.

  2. [...] om Duanna: Memphis Flyer, The Curvature, Cripchick. En liten tröst är ändå att Uruguay tillåter fri abort. Kriminalvården klarar inte av att [...]

    Posted by Till minne av Duanna Johnson « trollhare on November 12th, 2008.

  3. Thanks, sis.
    It just never stops hurting. It’s been more than monthly this year, these murders, and every time it’s like a cold spear in the gut.

    I hope against hope that Ms. Johnson will have some measure of justice, and I pray she’ll find peace.

    Posted by little light on November 12th, 2008.

  4. [...] I don’t have any commentary about Duanna Johnson’s death that Lisa or Jack or Renee or Crip Chick haven’t already [...]

    Posted by How Loud? « Questioning Transphobia on November 15th, 2008.

  5. [...] teisha cannon Jump to Comments last week we mourned the passing of duanna johnson. a few days later, another trans woman of color has been killed. this wednesday is trangender day [...]

    Posted by for teisha cannon « cripchick’s weblog on November 17th, 2008.

  6. [...] Read a memorial poem dedicated to Duanna here. [...]

    Posted by lsrj.org » Blog Archive » A moment of silence on November 21st, 2008.

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