Humanity
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Description:
Its been awhile since I have submitted anything to ES or any real writing place for awhile. College often has me busy or tapped creatively as I hustle around to get papers done. However, as I worked on an essay concerning another author's poem, this particular piece came to my mind and I had to write it
Now, the actual meat of the poem. Much of it comes from my own perspective...specifically on the issue of race. To explain, when I grew up, I lived in an area that was culturally mixed as well as ethnically. I had more friends amongst certain groups than others. My exposure to racism did not really take place except in literature and until my teen years. By then, the idea of it confused the piss out of me...then saddened me. My family retired and moved to a state that was rife with old hates, bad blood, and a history of bigotry that has perpetuated generations upon generations to despite another based on the actions of the past as well as the repetition of the present due to said actions of the past. Its a vicious cycle that is centered around a function of stupidity that I regard to be identifying oneself by race rather than culture.
To explain, I am aware what the skin tone I have is meant to signify. However, to me, I am an American...I am a poet, writer, and poor. My culture, however, can be dictated by my nationality, my interests, my hobbies, or even groups I associate with rather than merely the idea that "I'm white". However, my poem begins with my experiences of being labeled based on skintone, the expectations and treatments I have gotten from others that see me as this and expect the past or symbolic aspects that have come attached to it like a stigma.
Ultimately, I finish the poem on what I feel to be something we as a collective race should work towards. We are not like animal breeds with subspecies or different genus. We are one race. Our subspecies and other species consist of Cro Magnum and other humanoid species...not skin tone or hair patterns or eye color. I hope one day, that we will as a species get past that concept
Now, the actual meat of the poem. Much of it comes from my own perspective...specifically on the issue of race. To explain, when I grew up, I lived in an area that was culturally mixed as well as ethnically. I had more friends amongst certain groups than others. My exposure to racism did not really take place except in literature and until my teen years. By then, the idea of it confused the piss out of me...then saddened me. My family retired and moved to a state that was rife with old hates, bad blood, and a history of bigotry that has perpetuated generations upon generations to despite another based on the actions of the past as well as the repetition of the present due to said actions of the past. Its a vicious cycle that is centered around a function of stupidity that I regard to be identifying oneself by race rather than culture.
To explain, I am aware what the skin tone I have is meant to signify. However, to me, I am an American...I am a poet, writer, and poor. My culture, however, can be dictated by my nationality, my interests, my hobbies, or even groups I associate with rather than merely the idea that "I'm white". However, my poem begins with my experiences of being labeled based on skintone, the expectations and treatments I have gotten from others that see me as this and expect the past or symbolic aspects that have come attached to it like a stigma.
Ultimately, I finish the poem on what I feel to be something we as a collective race should work towards. We are not like animal breeds with subspecies or different genus. We are one race. Our subspecies and other species consist of Cro Magnum and other humanoid species...not skin tone or hair patterns or eye color. I hope one day, that we will as a species get past that concept
Humanity
I hear white boy And I know what you’re really sayin’ Mutt Pasty skinned dog Melting pot of Europe With a spit of ignorance To forget the unique cultural identities That all came to churn in my blood You say Caucasian A scribbled in dot on a survey Majority Oppressive dominant race Pale devil of the past A few degrees from a Nazi Racism only just under the surface Ready to seize the world in my grasp Privileged white man Opportunity everywhere I go Entitled No glass ceilings Velvet ropes moved aside Old boys’ clubs Secret handshake and societies One step to Wall Street The reality of it all Struggling to survive White trash Dying in the same tax bracket As my parents will My heritage never great Only serfdom and obscurity Poor running in generations The past clings Sticking to our shoes Like shit Culture is my identity Belonging only to What I choose to be in So that the only race card I ever pull Is one that says I am human |
Submitted on 2013-03-27 11:06:45 Terms of Service / Copyright Rules
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I relate a lot to this. Everyone is judged and preconceived by other regardless of reality or truth. I'm a blonde white girl so I'm automatically a rich privileged bimbo- When in reality I've worked extensively hard for what little I obtain. I enjoyed this write because I feel like you were able to encase the tone well within your writing- a lot of conviction which I very much so validate, I see this all the time. | | Posted on 2013-03-27 00:00:00 | by metallichick786 | [ Reply to This ] | |
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