Stone Henge
You are Briton
You are Africa

And I try to imagine my response. I can say with all sincerity that I would read it as a metaphorical acknowledgment that Stone Henge, and the British culture that created it, is merely an artifact in a million year timeline of humanity’s march out of East Africa. I would interpret it as a call for racial tolerance, as a reminder that we ultimately share the same core DNA, as a spit in the eye to the racist nationalist who would use such artifacts to further their own hatred.

One thing I know for sure is that I wouldn’t be offended.

So, the Greeks were Africans, too?
The Romans were Africans, too?
The Celts were Africans, too?
After all, Europeans were right next door to Africa. They must be Africans, right?

Who’s the real racist here?

It is the poet herself who made this political by stating a historical FICTION: that the Olmecs were African. Totally debunked. Not valid except as FICTION.

This FICTION has been debunked by the academic community already. It is considered a joke. Recently at LACMA, Dr. Michael Coe wouldn’t even entertain the idea without evidence.

Writing a poem does not grant someone the right to make FICTIONAL claims that are academically debunked (and racist for their implication that Indigenous People were “too stupid to create their own civilization”.)

Will you confront the poet for introducing this POLITICAL idea that is dismissed by any serious scholar? You should. You should confront her ignorance and racist refusal to grant credit for the Olmec Civilization to Indigenous People. For ignoring the massive piles of academic evidence showing the Olmecs were Indigenous.

Writing a poem that says “the Olmecs rode on unicorns” is a FICTION. So is saying they are Africans. That FICTION belongs in on the shelf with Lord of The Rings and other FICTION.

You may not care that our heritage is looted like this so casually, but many of us do. And it’s because of us who do care that you are even able to have the opportunity to know about this in the first place.

Your “I don’t care attitude” is why you are NOT looked to for leadership in our community. That attitude is a slippery slope that delivers us right back into the days of massive injustice and racism.

We do care, and if that hurts your feelings, we do not apologize. Just entertain yourself with more fiction (calling it “poetry”).

Thanks for the oportunity, for giving a chance of reading your words and, for sharing your thoughts

Nothing metaphorical that could say anything different than what we are all outraged about, I’lll translate it for you:

Olmeca you are Mexico
Olmeca you are Africa

No allusion, no follow up explanation, just following the ignorance of the racist Afrocentric insults on our people and our heritage.