Why Do They Have to Make Everything About Race?"

"Why Do They Have to Make Everything About Race?"
A question posed, a shield in place,
Diminishing truths, experiences erased,
As if discussing race were a disgrace.

Centuries of laws, a tangled web spun,
Tying lives together, the battle begun,
Systemic injustices, deeply rooted and strong,
Yet some choose blindness, deny the wrong.

To mention race is not to accuse or blame,
But to understand histories, never the same,
Lives shaped by biases, struggles untold,
Injustices faced, from young to old.

"Why do they have to make everything about race?"
A refrain of ignorance, a misplaced embrace,
For meaningful dialogues, it's a crucial space,
To unravel complexities, a need to face.

Acknowledging privilege, disparities clear,
Can pave the way for empathy's sincere,
Participating in conversations, an essential art,
To bridge divides, and heal each heart.

So let's not shy away from what must be discussed,
Let's dismantle barriers, in equity's trust,
For understanding race, it's a step we must take,
Towards a world where justice isn't at stake.

I'm not Racist, I Have Black Friends

In the mosaic of friendships, colors blend,
Yet truth remains, there's much to comprehend.
"I'm not racist," a shield some proudly wield,
"I have Black friends," a narrative concealed.

Diverse backgrounds paint our social scene,
But beneath the surface, biases unseen.
A shield against accusations, they claim,
Yet fail to confront the biases, the same.

Having friends of color, a step indeed,
But alone, it's not enough to heed.
Internalized racism, biases deep-seated,
Require introspection, attitudes unseated.

Allyship demands more than mere claim,
It's about actions, not just a name.
Proactive steps, confronting our flaws,
Challenging biases, breaking down walls.

Listening to voices that have long been ignored,
Amplifying struggles, standing in accord.
Understanding privilege, the role we play,
In dismantling systems, day by day.

So let's not hide behind friendships' guise,
But delve deeper, where truth lies.
For genuine allyship, it's an ongoing quest,
To confront biases and truly invest.

You're not like Others

Oh, darling, did you think I'd fit your mold?
Well, sorry to disappoint, I won't be controlled.
"You're not like others," you say with a smirk,
As if being unique is some sort of quirk.

I don't dance to your tune or follow your line,
I'm not here for your stereotypes to define.
You see, I'm me, unapologetically bold,
Breaking down barriers, stories untold.

Your divisive words won't shake my stride,
I won't let your biases be my guide.
I embrace my roots, my culture, my flair,
I won't conform to your narrow-minded stare.

Celebrating diversity means more than you know,
It's about embracing each unique glow.
So, next time you're tempted to utter those words,
Remember, I'm not here to fit your absurd.

I'm not like others, and that's just fine,
I'll keep shining bright, this light of mine.
So take your stereotypes, your biased view,
I'll be over here, being authentically true.

Time Passes - Systemic Racism Remains

Examine America's legal history, a story unfolds,
Of a nation built on dreams and gold.
Yet woven within its fabric deep,
Are tales of sorrow that often creep.

Slavery's chains, a brutal yoke,
Enslaved the hearts, as freedom spoke.
Men and women, deemed as mere chattel,
Their cries unheard in a world so callous.

The Three-Fifths Compromise, a cynical trade,
Human souls counted, but rights delayed.
A nation's growth, on backs so weary,
Yet equality's light remained dreary.

The 1790 Naturalization Act's decree,
Excluded many from liberty's plea.
"Free white persons" alone could aspire,
While others faced walls ever higher.

Fugitive Slave Acts, cruel and cold,
Denied escape, as freedom they stole.
Bloodhounds and chains, a harrowing sight,
Injustice thrived, cloaked in the night.

Segregation in ranks, within the military's might,
African Americans faced a discriminatory plight.
Their valor disregarded, their service stained,
By barriers erected, freedom restrained.

The Indian Removal Act's painful course,
Tore tribes from lands, a brutal force.
Trail of Tears, a tear-stained trail,
Of broken promises and hopes frail.

Dred Scott's lament, a legal blow,
"No rights," they said, to freedom's flow.
Citizenship denied, justice deferred,
In courts of law, fairness deterred.

Homestead Acts, a promise betrayed,
Land for settlers, but others strayed.
Excluded and marginalized, hopes forlorn,
Inequality entrenched, from dusk till morn.

Jim Crow's laws, a darkened shroud,
Segregated lives, voices cowed.
Separate but unequal, a bitter pill,
Injustice rampant, a nation ill.

Ku Klux Klan's terror, a reign of fear,
Against Black lives, their hatred clear.
Violence and intimidation, tools of hate,
Civil rights' champions, a heavy weight.

Chinese Exclusion Act, a closed door,
Immigration barred, dreams no more.
Based on race, a nation's shame,
Inequity's mark, a lasting flame.

Dawes Act's betrayal, lands divided,
Native heritage, forcibly derided.
Assimilation's cruel facade,
Culture lost, by policies flawed.

Plessy v. Ferguson's ill-fated decree,
"Separate but equal," a fallacy.
Segregation's grip, unyielding and strong,
Rights denied, justice gone wrong.

Internment camps, Japanese Americans' plight,
Freedom stripped, in wartime's blight.
Executive Order 9066's stain,
On liberty's banner, a dark refrain.

Alien Land Laws, a discriminatory pact,
Asian immigrants, land rights lacked.
Denied opportunities, a biased creed,
Injustice sowed, a bitter seed.

Agricultural Adjustment Act's unequal measure,
Excluded many, a loss to treasure.
Sharecroppers and farmers, left behind,
Economic disparities, ever unkind.

Federal Housing Act's misguided aim,
Urban renewal's cost, a racial claim.
Redlining's mark, on neighborhoods so dear,
Wealth disparities, crystal clear.

The Federal Aid Highway Act's path,
Displaced communities, in its aftermath.
Segregation's legacy, highways divide,
Economic gaps, ever wide.

Immigration Act of '65, a new dawn,
Yet shadows lingered, biases drawn.
Impact varied, by nationality and race,
Immigrant journeys, in a complex maze.

The fight for civil rights, a long road,
Voting rights struggles, a heavy load.
Barriers to healthcare, education's gate,
Justice delayed, a nation's fate.

Mass incarceration's disproportionate toll,
Communities of color, paying the toll.
War on Drugs, a flawed crusade,
Criminal justice, in shadows it wade.

Environmental policies, a biased stance,
Communities suffer, in toxic dance.
Equal access to healthcare, a distant dream,
Disparities stark, in health's stream.

Labor practices unfair, workers dismayed,
Minorities sidelined, wages delayed.
Educational inequalities, a stark reality,
Schools segregated, hope's frailty.

HUD policies, housing divide,
Discrimination persists, on every side.
Prison-industrial complex, a nation's stain,
Racially biased policing, causing pain.

In this tapestry of triumph and woe,
Inequities embedded, as centuries flow.
Challenges remain, for justice to prevail,
A nation's conscience, a constant tale.

Uppity

"Uppity," they say, with venom's sting,
A word steeped in history rings.
A term that's laced with prejudice's taint,
Injustice's mark, a painful plaint.

In old Southern drawls, it was once used,
For Black souls deemed too bold, accused.
Insufficient deference, they would claim,
To societal norms, a daring flame.

"Uppity" still carries that weight,
Of racial bias, an unjust fate.
But "uppity" is but a feeble barb,
In the face of strength, it loses its garb.

They see my grace, my confidence gleam,
And to their eyes, it's a haunting dream.
Nevertheless, I rise above, with grace and poise,
Defying stereotypes, breaking noise.

Bombarded by labels meant to confine,
I rise above, my spirit refined.
"Uppity," they say, with a hint of disdain,
Yet I won't let their judgments restrain.

For in their words, I see a reflection,
Of their own fears and misdirection.
To be called "uppity" for intellect and grace,
Speaks volumes of their own limited space.

I embrace my intelligence, my strength, my flair,
Unbound by societal norms, I dare to declare,
That I won't conform to their narrow view,
For my worth transcends their skewed milieu.

With grace and finesse, I navigate,
The challenges thrown, I won't abate.
I acknowledge my gifts, my advanced stance,
And won't let their labels dim my expanse.

So to those who label with shallow intent,
I hold my head high, with confidence lent.
For being "uppity" in their eyes,
Is a testament to my limitless skies.

So let them label, let them speak,
My spirit strong, it won't be weak.
For in every stride, I claim my space,
A woman of color, with dignity and grace.

It's not About Poverty, Its About Race

Wearing masks of words, a subtle shield,
"It's not about race," the claim concealed.
A veil over truths, realities unseen,
Injustice masked, a narrative so keen.

"It's about poverty," they firmly state,
As if race and class could separate.
But intertwined they are, a tangled thread,
Centuries of history, where they've bled.

From laws of old, to systems designed,
Racism's grip, poverty entwined.
Inequities born, from unjust rules,
Affecting generations, like darkening pools.

Systemic racism, a root so deep,
In poverty's shadows, its secrets keep.
For race and poverty walk hand in hand,
A complex dance, across the land.

"It's not about race," they often declare,
Yet systemic racism lurks in the air.
A racial caste system, entrenched and sly,
Leads to poverty's grip, where many lie.

Generations burdened by unequal start,
Systemic biases tearing lives apart.
Limited opportunities, doors closed tight,
Invisible barriers, dimming hope's light.

Injustice's mask, woven with care,
Hides the truth of a system unfair.
Race and poverty, a nexus profound,
Shaping destinies, without a sound.

So let's unveil these layers, bold and true,
Addressing racism, poverty too.
For until we dismantle the caste's cruel role,
True equality remains an elusive goal.

Acknowledgment needed, of intertwined woes,
To tackle injustice, how it grows.
Intersectionality, a crucial view,
In fighting battles, old and new.

To say "it's not about race" is to ignore,
The struggles faced, forevermore.
So let's dismantle, with wisdom's might,
Systemic racism, in justice's light.

Reverse Racism, a Myth

Bequeathed with the benefits of inequality's grip,
Statements of "reverse racism" slip,
A term misunderstood, a concept flawed,
In a world where privilege writes its own code.

Centuries of pain, of systemic weight,
Cannot be reversed by a single debate,
For racism's roots run deep and wide,
In systems of oppression, where truths often hide.

To speak of reverse racism, a misnomer indeed,
For it ignores the power dynamics at full speed,
In a society where privilege reigns supreme,
No reverse discrimination is what it seems.

White privilege casts a long, enduring shade,
Where opportunities differ, foundations laid,
For a white person to claim victimhood in a system so biased,
Is to deny the truths that have long been advised.

It's not about individual acts alone,
But structures and histories deeply sown,
Injustice persists, regardless of intent,
In systems where inequality finds its cement.

So let's not muddy waters with misleading claims,
But confront realities, break through the chains,
Ridding ourselves of systemic racism is where true justice lies,
Acknowledging privilege, opening eyes.

Reverse racism, a myth to dispel,
In a world where inequality persists and still dwells,
Let's strive for equity, for fairness, for all,
Until every voice, every life stands tall.

Break Through to a Breakthrough

Everyday, the sun rises anew,
Bringing hopes of a breakthrough true.
In every day, there's a chance to find,
A path to a breakthrough of the mind.

When we face a breakdown, don't despair,
For it can lead to a breakthrough rare.
Through the tears and the break down low,
We find strength we didn't know we could show.

Turnaround moments, they come and go,
When we're at our lowest, feeling hollow.
But if we turn around and face the light,
We'll find the strength to continue the fight.

The payoff comes after the hard work's done,
When we refuse to quit, and we keep on the run.
Every rollout is a step ahead,
In the journey of life where dreams are fed.

So let's roll out our plans with courage strong,
Knowing every setback is where we belong.
For in every breakdown, there's a breakthrough near,
And every day is a chance to persevere.

Grace

Gathering her thoughts, she navigates life's challenges with understanding.
Revered for her calm demeanor, she embodies the virtue of composure and honor.
Adorned with humility, she carries herself with a gentle aura.
Cultivating kindness, she uplifts her prime characteristic.
Embracing tranquility, she embodies a serene presence.

Wedding Anniversary Celebration

In this world of fleeting dreams,
Where love's a dance on fragile beams,
You two have built a steadfast bond,
A love that's deep, enduring, and fond.

Through years of joy and tears you've grown,
Your love a seed, now fully sown,
Into a tree with roots entwined,
A love that's true, a love defined.

Through trials and storms, your love did weather,
Each challenge made you stronger together,
And now, as you reach this milestone day,
We celebrate your love, come what may.

May your hearts continue to unite,
In love, compassion, and delight,
May every year bring greater love,
As you journey on, hand in glove.
So here's to you, this special day,
May your love shine bright, come what may,
May your hearts continue to grow,
In the love you've pledged, forever more.

Intern’s Odyssey

In a realm of cubicles, the corporate decorum,
Arrived a new intern, a diligent factotum.
Given hoards of files with deadlines tight,
He worked tirelessly through the night.

His skills shined in a world of demands,
Efficient as the moon, with invisible hands,
Floating through the codes and the keys.
His presence, a whisper in the nocturnal breeze.

In the quiet moments, breviloquent and wise,
He spoke with precision, avoiding needless lies.
He oscillated between tasks, a dance so precise.
He gathered experience, causing his learning to rise.

His duties called him back and forth as one noctambulating
In corridors with silent footsteps echoing.
With each trial conquered, his confidence grew,
His aspirations soaring, his dreams anew.

With the tutelege of mentors, he found his way,
Efflorescence of knowledge blooming each day.
His dedication drew admiration from peers,
As he conquered obstacles, overcoming fears.

And as he journeyed through the corporate maze,
He found his place, in myriad ways.
His name whispered in the halls with respect,
For his prowess and diligence, no one could neglect.

In the realm of cubicles, he carved his domain,
A testament to hard work, not in vain.
For in the quiet hours, when the world was asleep,
He soared, his vigilance, eternally deep.

No longer just an intern, but a force to reckon,
In his veins, ambition flowed like a beckon.
No longer a jack of trades, now a professional creed,
A master, for success was his steed.

So here he stands, at the pinnacle of his quest,
A testament to determination, and no less.
In the realm of cubicles, he found his place,
A shining example of success and grace.

Dress Well Young Man

In the annals of history, a tale unfolds
Of black bodies oppressed, in chains of old
Forbidden to dress, in fine attire;
Their spirits subdued, by oppressive fire.

The Negro Act of 1740 decreed
Africans should not aspire, to dress with heed
In finery or wealth; Their attire should be
No more than cloth, the lowest degree.

Wearing clothes of worth, above their station
Was deemed an act, of subversion.
For those who dared, to dress with grace
Their clothes were seized, without a trace.

But as time went on, a revolution began.
The Civil Rights movement, took a stand.
Dressing well was no longer a crime.
It became a symbol, of resistance and pride in that time.

Black Ivy, they called it, a style so refined
Worn by icons, who were unconfined:
James Baldwin, Miles Davis, to name a few.
They wore their clothes, as a badge of truth.

This fashion was more, than just a trend.
It was a way of saying, we will not bend
To the will of those, who seek to oppress.
We will dress with pride, and no less.

Fashion is a language, that speaks of our past.
It tells the stories, of those who have passed.
Black Ivy is a symbol, of strength and defiance.
A way of reclaiming, our right to alliance.

So young black men, let this be a sign,
Dress well and proud, let your light shine.
For there was a time, when it was forbidden,
But now it's a symbol, of the strength within.