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.