I Am Not My Complexion
by April Sims
Why does it matter the lightness of my complexion?
Why does it seem to give your brain an erection and
Makes your eyes stand at attention?
And call me names like yellow, redbone, honey beige, light brown
Oh, and my favorite light, bright damn near white
Well, stand down soldier
Because I am giving you orders
To judge me by my contents and my character
That is beneath my light skin
It should not matter how much cream
Flows through my bloodstream
Because we are all the same because "they"
(Whoever they are)
Say one drop commences the colored chart
We must learn to love one another
And embrace one another
Or pretty soon we will be extinct and "they"
Will say mission accomplished
I guess I am naive, because I was raised in a big melting pot where all the races, creeds, colors, etc. made up one big stew. I have come to peek from behind my rose colored glasses and see things for what they are. Things that are today but with acknowledgement can be changed for a better future.