How Much Is A Black Man's Life Worth? - A Poem

How much is
a Black man's
life worth
in the United States
Especially when
White men
can create at anytime
lies about who and what
we are?

How much is
a Black man's
breath worth
when even in the streets
of his own neighborhood,
he is seen as being up
to no good?

How much does
a Black man's
existence cost
after his life is lost?
Is his soul even worth
the ten minute segment
on the national news,
after millions of us start
again singing the blues?

How much is a
Black man's body worth
dead in the street; lifeless;
unconscious; defeated; deleted;
executed; by ruthless
White men who can get away
with anything they feel at will?

How much is a
Black son's life worth
when his mother arrives
at the mortuary, and the Ancestors
call him back home?

How much more tragedy
needs to be shown regarding
the lives of Black men
before this madness comes
to an end?

How much are we worth
to white allies, accomplices,
justice groups, activists and organizers
when another fallen Black male’s name
causes us more outrage and pain?!

How much is a
dead Black man worth
to the authorities
who have failed to protect us,
consistently neglected us,
and have also stereotyped
and profiled us?

How much is a 
Black man’s life worth
in the United States
when this country’s legacy
is Black death and hate?!

Copyright Christopher D. Sims
May 7th, 2020

Written for Ahmaud Arbery. May he rest in deep peace.