That's Ok Because...
There’s never been
Black kids in my classes
But that’s okay because
“Racism is over”
I’d say that to my mom
Every time she asked
what race my friends were
All I’ve ever known was that
Black stayed at home
When you leave home
You act like your friends
All my friends were White
But that’s okay because
I guessed
“The White way is
the right way”
It was in fourth grade when
I was first asked
“Why do you always
hang out with Them,
and not Us?
Suddenly there became
a Them and Us.
But that’s okay because
They outnumbered Us
so chances are
I would end up
hanging out with Them anyway.
In middle school I moved
Around from Us to Them
During the lunch period
They still weren’t in my classes
But that’s okay because
At least I interacted with Them
My music was
predominantly pop
I heard the “Black” stuff at home
But you know, that stayed at home
There were all these
new trends happening
It was weird
My older brothers liked the same trends
They never liked
the “White” stuff
So that had to mean it was “Black stuff”
White kids dressing Black
and talking Black
Did this mean being Black
Was starting to be cool
But the White kids could never
Actually “Be Black”
But that’s okay because
If they were doing it,
it had to be right.
All of a sudden
In high school everyone was
“Being Black”
I must not have got the memo
I was never prepare to
actually “Be black”
It confused me because
I wasn’t sure what I was
Supposed to be hide anymore
Things were crossing over my
Home and school
Separation line
That took this long to perfect
In the first place
But that’s okay because
The line wasn’t really
there in the first place
“Racism is over” remember?
I joined the BSU club
I had just found out it meant
Black Student Union
Maybe this was the place
To finally be the Black Girl
My skin and hair
Wanted me to be.
I was brutally
awakened To reality
My childhood had been
Whitewashed
With a thick coat of paint.
A few meetings in I realized
Black people were still struggling
They had always been struggling
And I was always oblivious
But that’s okay because
I found out I’ve
always Been Black
So therefore
I’ve been struggling also,
Right?
There were a lot of
Black people shot down that year
How was I supposed to
relate to all the tragedy around me
When there has never been
Any tragedy around me
How could I walk around
Saying I’m Black when
I was never really told
“You are Black!
You’ve always Been Black!
You will always Be Black!
It is okay to Be Black!”
But that’s okay because
Because …
It was never okay!
