Bootstraps

The struggle persists, a paradox unfolds,
Minorities urged to rise, their strength extolled,
Yet woven in the narrative, a sinister thread,
Bootstraps pulled, hopes soaring, then swiftly shred.

The tale unfolds, an uphill climb begun,
Yet some, threatened by progress, seek to shun,
A privilege assumed, a barrier unseen,
Attempts to ascend met with barriers keen.

The myth of meritocracy, a veil so thin,
For some, success tainted by the color of skin,
A system rigged, though progress is sought,
The bootstraps cut, dreams and aspirations fraught.

Injustice persists, a relentless tide,
Yet resilience blooms on the oppressed side,
Through shared voices rising, a call for change,
To dismantle the barriers, a world rearrange.