I am Black

by Solano Trindade

I am Black

my grandparents were burned

by the African sun

my soul received the baptism of drums

atabaques, gonguês and agogôs

They told me that my grandparents

came from Luanda

as cheap merchandise

they planted sugarcane for the master of the new plantation

and founded the first Maracatu

Then my grandfather fought like a madman

on the lands of Zumbi

he was fierce as could be

in capoeira or with a knife

read not, wrote not

he let the stick talk

He wasn’t a meek and
humble Uncle Tom

My grandma

was no joke

in the Malê Revolt

she stood out

In my soul remained

samba

batucada

the sway of the hips

and the longing for liberation…