Yeah, I'm Black

Yeah, I’m Black

It has become plain to me
Some of yall think I’m too free.
A red bone with that look.
Folks think I keep a fat, black book!
Folks think I get special treatment.
Folks think I’m yellow and very different.
I wish folks didn’t prejudice my tone…
Say I aint black and leave a brotha alone.
But I don’t get respect from my own race…
Say I’m too bright to darken the African American space.
What about Caucasians and their viewpoint?
A drop is black. One ancestor makes you black.
I’m sure you get the point.
But white people acknowledge my heritage faster
While my race is full of non-caring harassers.
All we do is make assumptions about each other.
When I might be “blacker” than others.
But all we do is make assumptions about each other.
I found out just how black I was
When it came to the discrimination of
This white looking Black man in front of you.
Tired of begging folks to believe I’m black too.
So I accepted it long ago on the inside
While many uncertainties died
With all the pain of non acceptance I cried.
Does it really matter if you see black?
Yes and No and I’ll explain that.
Yes because I am not immune to prejudice.
And No because there are things more important than this.
But, just for the record, I am black.
I am French, Dutch, Indian, White, Creole, and Black.
I have always been and always will be black
And when I die, I’ll still be black!

Quorizma…

8-2-04