Sitting at the kitchen table
My coffee cup in hand
I find myself musing
About the nature of man
Not man, the male of our species
But man - short for human

My coffee is cream-colored
But originally was black
Like our African forebears, the origin of our kind
Then other colors came about, each equally unique 
Until those with the most possessions
Decided their skin tone was the best

Greed first, then prejudice
Along with the strongest asserting their power
Hence man became the word to describe women as well
Equally important but weaker
Relegated to no-name status
Until recent years

So, I am compelled to consider
How the whole history of our species
Started out pure, but then was corrupted
By greed, prejudice, and power 
Not so different now than before
Even though strides have been made towards equality for all. 

As a woman of distant African origins 
I am impatient but also grateful 
These small steps are vital
For humanity to embrace intrinsic worth 
Learning to walk forward together
Legitimate, unique, and equal