If you aren’t invited to the table,
You set your own, resourcefully,
So the Black Talent Awards were born,
Of #Evenfields, for even playing fields.
Fortunate to support Black talent,
Hence been invited to Edgbaston,
On one pleasant Thursday evening,
For an inaugural soiree agreeable!
Into a room awash with pleasing vibes,
Coolly, we entered at casual pace.
Ablaze with a spring in our steps,
In our unconscious public selves!
Bravely facing our startling past,
Waging a war against inequality,
Solving riddles of inclusion and diversity,
Inventing a language that all will grasp,
Stimulating us up to incredible heights,
Keeping us afloat and energized,
With a belief that all will be alright,
At the dawning of a hopeful morn.
Faces caressed by the neon lights, radiant,
Emblazoned with natural beauty, unmolested!
All clad in delightful and colorful ensemble.
Ethical character at heart, uncontaminated!
Constantly sharing and learning,
Together, conferring and networking.
Meanwhile rewriting our own history,
Of talent subdued and dreams deferred,
Of successes suppressed and untold.
This way, we reach out and teach widely that,
Apt Black talent sojourned in this universe,
Never again to be lost in the darkness of ages.
Surrounded by like minds and allies,
Who evermore want an equitable world.
And forever care for the Black professionals,
In such wise, watch this space next year.
As it were, #Jacobs was a finalist,
In the Large Business category.
Felicitation and appreciation to #KPMG,
For walking away with the coveted trophy,
And making us better future competitors.
Still, it will be remiss not to mention the other,
Finalist, #London South Bank University,
In our eyes, we are all winners!
When you dare, you can grow!
Thus, we walk away, our heads held high.
No wounded pride nor copious tears,
Now we pick ourselves up and regroup.
It’s mid-ocean but dry land shall come,
To our promising and rising stars.
While they plant their feet to go forth,
We protect them from lurking dangers.
Break them free from lack of opportunities,
Not leaving it to chance, but guide to prosperity,
With allies, lift the bruising weight,
And trailblaze their thorny paths.
We practice #Harambee and #Ubuntu,
Humanity, living together in harmony.
For we are as good as the others,
“I am because we are!”