Forgive me South Afrikan History Books

They call her mother, nurturer, hope and strength

Only when it suited them and gave her light next to a man

She fought for their voices, but only those who received those voices got praise

lines of words written about her

the history of this nation, reflecting only one face

the face of a man

women put as foot notes and references to a history the should be featured on

her pain and her efforts put aside so those who were seen as the faces of the struggle may shine

no one spoke of the revolution that was driven by the women of 1912

no one speaks of the international relations that she Helen Joseph was part of

forgive me South Afrikan History books if a am being disrespectful

But i don't see a reflection of myself on your pages

I don't see the women whom are meant to be on your covers

Maybe South Afrikan history writers need to ask for forgiveness

to the women whom they stripped and denied their glory

South Afrikan history seems to be wearing a face that i can not relate to

as a young South Afrikan woman, a face of a man

forgive me South Afrikan history books

but i can not fully embrace you or celebrate you

as some of your faces are missing

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