@tanginastone “Black Boy” is a beautiful piece of poetry that takes a look into the relationship between cishet Black men and Queer femmes.
Songs are poems. And her lyrics are proof.
“I’ve been your fatherless daughter all my life. My life.“ +

This lyric is so powerful because it shows the disconnect Black femmes especially sapphic ones feel when their fathers aren’t in their lives. Or when those relationships feel estranged as a result of our identities. +

“But I know there’s some things I’ve been feeling weak about all the hate for you, Black boy bout me bout me bout us why you let them think that they’re better than you?”
This lyric is the guilt and pain Black femmes often feel in regards to black men. We are almost always +

In their corner when they feel inferior to white society. But Tangina also ensures to note that white society’s hate is applied towards us as well. The last lyric almost serves as a double entendre: why allow white society to get to you? Because when you do it +

that anger and resentment for not being accepted often falls back on us. Cyclical oppression.
“Questions on questions on questions I got for you (Black-) Questions on Questions on Questions I got for you (Black boy)
Who’s your mama? Where’s daddy?”

This lyric represents the questions Black femmes, especially sapphic ones, have towards Black men. Why so much anger towards us? Why hate the people who birthed you? Why so much self-hatred? Why hate the people who love you? Why hate your sisters and mothers? The black +

divine feminine? Those who carry Black wombs? Why hate them? And time and time again even when we have answers to these questions we find ourselves asking them again. Like clockwork. I feel like this makes so much sense as a refrain because we are ALWAYS asking ourselves this +

Even if we are in a space with non-men, or a life filled with non-men, we still have these questions ringing in the back of our mind.

“When you’re feeling all alone who do you run to? Why are you scared to love? Why are you scared to be? Why do you hate me? Black boy.”
The first three questions serves as a parallel against the last. When you’re alone who do you go to if you hate the femmes you pushed away? +

Why are you afraid to embrace your non male siblings? Why are you afraid of your own Black male existence? This is then paralleled with the final question why do you hate me? They hate us because they are unable to answer the first three questions. Our existence alone +

constantly conjures up insecurities in relation to the first three queries.
“Descendants of Kings alive and breathing. Why shoot your own brother, disrespect your Queen. I don’t hate you father I do love you brother why live in this cycle perpetuate things?”

This is a nod to the infighting often found amongst Black men and the disrespect endured by Black femmes. She’s again asking why are you perpetuating this cycle of abuse? Why be mad at your brother or white society just to take it out on your partners?

“Now will you fight? Fight for our lives? Lives should be ball less and lived in the light. Can we prepare? This shit isn’t fair. But this is all common knowledge you should be aware.”
Will you as Black men also fight for our lives? The ones that are non-men? +

The ones that exist outside of the dichotomy of gender? Will you fight for the divine feminine? We all know this isn’t fair it should be common knowledge you should be aware. That line is so powerful because it takes the responsibility OFF of femmes/non-men and on to them. +

Your anger isn’t an excuse to harm us or be cruel towards us. Or perpetuate cycles of abuse. We are all in pain. You need to do the self work to heal and help #AllBlackLivesMatter not just the ones you can use your toxic masculinity to control and cater for your needs.

That ball less double entendre thooooo. Ball less like live your life freely. But ball less like life shouldn’t be rooted in patriarchy and toxic masculinity.

So questions on questions and questions I got for you. Black men will you learn? Will you do the work to help us ALL? Not just the ones that make you feel justified in your anger and toxic masculinity?

*DISCLOSURE: my definition of femmes= non men. And people who have had the experience of society labeling them as having a “feminine” experience.*