I've been called Adam, the beginning of creation
I've been called Eve, the mother of civilization
I've been called Abraham, the father of many nations
I've been called divine, the source of inspiration
I've been called Moses and walked a thousand miles
I've been called Cleopatra, magnificent queen of the Nile
I've been called Imhotep, admired for my pyramids' ingenious style
I've been called Nefertiti, my father's favorite child…
…I've been called Toby when Kunta Kinte's who I am
I've been called significantly less than three-fifths of a man
I've been called an animal, which they cruelly burned with a brand
I've been called conductor, guiding my people to the promised land
I've been called the mammy and I've been called the maid
I've been called a good nigger when that's the role I played
I've been called widow when it was my spouse they decided to slay
I've been called crazy when, despite it all, I prayed…