On the 100th anniversary of Suffrage

On the 100th anniversary of Suffrage
A brief history of American Democracy.
Instructions: Mark your Ballot Fully. Fill in the Square. Use a Dark Ink Pen. You May Only Choose One.

▢Two Hundred Forty-Four years Constitutional “democracy”
******For the people, By the white men.

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▢One Hundred Fifty-Two Years All men are created “Free”
******Free to vote, if they can afford it.

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▢One Hundred Years to the day Suffragettes prevail!
******White women to the front, Black women in the back.

▢Ninety-Six Years ago Natives granted the right to vote
******but not the right to culture.

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▢Seventy-Four Years ago the Japanese are allowed to live “Free”
******But we’ve taken their land and stripped their stores.

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▢Fifty-Three Years ago marry the person you love
******Regardless of their skin color, but mind their gender.

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▢Five Years ago marry the person you love
******Take-Two! All genders okay, unless you’re in Kentucky.

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▢Five Month ago your home is your castle
******Unless you are sleeping while black

▢8 minutes life, liberty, pursuit of happiness
******No longer includes breath.

Thank you for exercising your vote. In a Democracy every voice counts!

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Beulah Vega is a writer and theatrical artist living and working in California’s Bay Area.  Her work has been published in ‘First Leaves’, ‘Before they were Cool’, Fae Dreams, Nightmare Whispers, and Two Macabre Ladies. Her poems have also been performed as part of the Bay Area WTF festival in Heroines, Harpies, and Harlots and the CPAC Dead Poet Society.  Her short story “Oh Sweetie” will be featured in an upcoming edition of the Line 720 podcast. She specializes in work that gives voice to those traditionally marginalized in literary and performing arts.