Genesis Begins Again

by Alicia D. Williams

“money buys everything but good sense.”

And apparently no one told Mrs. Hill that we don’t talk about slavery anymore, because she goes on like she’s proud to know her ancestors were picking cotton.

God make me beautiful, make me light, and give me pretty hair.

I recall every bad memory, every negative word, because when I sing, I’m gonna conjure the loneliness of Billie Holiday, the joy of Ella Fitzgerald, the soul and longing of Etta James. I’ll sing for every girl who feels like . . . feels like me.