The Happy House Negro – How to Make a Slave

The Happy House Negro – How to Make a Slave
by Sabrina Dawkins

In a dream,
in darkness,
I saw Negroes
well-dressed on the front row
in Boulé ball tuxedos
with spoiled black daughters
dressed like princesses.
I watched Satan’s daughters,
who were teachers,
hand out auls
with a jewel on the end
to black students
that filled the dark auditorium,
where the daughters of the Roman Empire
had stood high on stage
and delivered convincing performances,
apparently.
No awl was given to me.