because if democracy should equal acceleration                               
then why won’t we get that more mass
and more time and more force
will only decrease acceleration
only minimize democracy

why won’t we get
that human life is not disposable
that for every kilogram more of mass
added to the pile of slain blacks
comes one hundred kilograms more of
tears, pain, heartache, and anger

why won’t we get
that for every second more of time
added to years of this country’s history
of systemic oppression and double standards
comes one hundred seconds more of
the delay of humanity, of truth, of justice

why won’t we get
that for every newton more of force
exerted onto brown backs within
and into the homes of brown kids abroad
comes one hundred newtons more of
everything else

because with one hand we condemn
the sacrifice of humanity in the name of god
while in the other hand we sacrifice
humanity in the name of democracy
always rinsing and repeating
until all that can be are bubbles of white
no more dirty specks of black and brown

because democracy can never be advanced
can never be accelerated
as long as we keep adding mass
keep adding seconds
keep adding newtons 
because you see: every kilogram is not just a kilogram
and every second is not just a second
and every newton is not just a newton

because each unit must be seen in the
context of its derivation
because you see: human life is not disposable
so we must stop disposing of our fellow beings
must stop deluding ourselves
must grasp that yes democracy is acceleration indeed
but with our current ways, all we are doing is exhausting

because we deserve much more
because i know that we
are capable of feeling,
of nurturing, of dancing, of painting,
we must join hands in the fight to
nurture the kilograms instead of slaying them
and we must join hands in the fight to dance with the seconds and move with them
and we must join hands in the fight to paint with newtons instead of beating with them

and we must forever join hands in the fight to be human. we must.