Testimony
DemonSpawn
Date:
21/10/2004
I am an African
I carry the guilt of my white Ancestors
on my shoulders
There is no excuse or reason
for me to present
There is no validation I can offer
for the acts of the past
It was not by choice I carry
this guilt
It is my heritage and my curse.
It is a reminder of the nature of man
Who hates
Who dominates
Who fights
Who judges
Who condemns
It is my heritage and my gift.
It is a reminder that there is always a choice
To love
To forgive
To make peace
To accept
To rejoice in diversity
This is my heritage and my realisation.
I have already accepted and rejoiced
And I have already forgiven
the victims
For hating me
For the deeds of my white Ancestors
I have made peace
with History
My heritage is with me to use for good.
To heal the land, ripped apart
By the deeds of my white Ancestors
To remind my land of Ubuntu
To remind my land of ukuhloniphana
Not for me
Not for you
But for those, my white Ancestors
And their victims.
To show them who watch us
That we can love
We can live
We can accept
We can stand together
In diversity
Not for me
Not for you
We are but moments in History.
But for those to whom I will pass my heritage
And for their brothers and sisters of my land.
To show them who will look back on us
That we need not hate
We need not judge
We need not condemn
We need not fear the colour of our skin.
We are all of the land
We are all of the sky
We are all of the water
We are all of the fire
We are all of the spirit
I am an African
I carry the deeds of my white Ancestors
on my shoulders
They are on display to show
That for every excess of hate
There can be an equal in love
For every excess of fear
There can be an equal in acceptance
For every excess in oppression
There can be an equal in upliftment
It is a choice
for each one of us
Not for me
Not for you
But for the memory of those who have
gone before
And for those who have yet
to be
Because we are but moments in History
But our deeds will reflect our heritage
And will fall on the shoulders of
our children
I am an African
I carry the deeds of my white Ancestors
on my shoulders
In the hope that they may change the History
that is made today.
I have forgiven the victims
For hating me
For the deeds of my white Ancestors
So that my strength may be seen
Without a shadow of domination
So that I may be seen
As an African
As udadewenu
As a maker of History
Because I am an African
Born of this land
In pain
Fear
Judgement
Condemnation
But also in love
Faith
Acceptance
Joy
And hope.
Let me share the burden
of the deeds of my white Ancestors
So that we may walk together
As one land
Because we are but moments in History
And the History we make today
Will be the heritage our children
Hold up with pride
tomorrow.
