Sometimes, my chest feels heavy

 My mind has a habit of thinking about the world

And how it just doesn’t “get me”

 

Sometimes, my chest feels heavy

You look at me and think

You’ve got me down to a science

I’m a woman, so I must be weak

I’m a black woman, so I must be cheap

When you hear me speak, you think

“Oh, you’re not really ‘black’”

“Oreo!”

And when you see that I’m sweet, you act

Like I’m a pushover

Like I’m beneath you

Like I’m the exception to “my people”

 

Sometimes, my chest feels heavy

If I tell a humorous joke

Don’t act like I’m a clown

Don’t act like we don’t have the same college education

If I rock out to Led Zepplin

Don’t act so surprised

If I’m blasting 2Chainz

Don’t act so surprised

I can see that you think I’m one dimensional

I can see you mentally trying to jam me into a stereotype

Well, stop

Sometimes, my chest feels heavy

Because you won’t accept me, for me

You want to change and monitor

Who I’m “supposed” to be

At times I feel guilty

For not living up to what you believe

You make me want to scream,

I’m sorry I’m a woman!

I’m sorry I was born with black skin!

I’m sorry I don’t ascribe to “black culture”!

I’m sorry that I don’t fit in “white culture”!

I’m different, and weird

I like to read, write, and sing

I love speaking Japanese!

 

Sometimes, my chest feels heavy

Because people make me feel ashamed

And I shouldn’t, because I love who I am

Your words do hurt me,

Please stop weighing me down

I’m just trying to breathe