I am Black

Elementary School

We called myself Monkey

We called myself Sambo

We called myself Bootlipped

We called myself Crow

I laughed while they snickered

I smiled while they smirked

I sacrificed while they blamed

I trusted everyone while they used me for work

I was everyone's friend while to them I was an enemy

I was confused, maybe I deserved it

Though at a young age, I asked what I did for them to do this to me

History was thrown at my feet

A big book, new looking

As if it had been ignored and ageing

I read the works of MLK and Malcolm X

I read of the Black Genocides

I read of Executive Order 9986

I read on the amount of people who died 

Middle School

They called me Monkey

They called me Sambo

They callled me Bootlipped

They called me Crow

They laughed while I snickered

They smiled while I smirked

They sacrificed while I blamed

They trusted everyone while I used them for work

They were my friend while to me, they were enemies

I knew, I did not deserve this

Different home, same schools

Different skin, same organs

Different principles, same roads

Why was I being treated differently, when we did the same things?

If they want to show me hate, I can show it too.

High School

Some called me Monkey

Some called me Sambo

Some called me Bootlipped

Some called me Crow

I laughed while they laughed

I smiled while they smiled

I sacrificed while they sacrificed

I trusted while they trusted

I was a friend while they were a friend

My brain is elevated

I accept most things

Occasionally I was treated differently

But most of the time, I hear good things

History defined me different than how I am

Given a chance, people will understand

I am Black