I Belong...

I consider myself lucky. Lucky, because I can say that I belong... I belong to arguably one of the strongest communities to develop in the U.S.A. I am a Black-American and I belong... Yes, I belong. My skin says so, My hair, My nose, The gap between my teeth, The fullness of my hips and thighs, The thickness of my butt. Yes, how can I not belong? All these things link me to the rest of you And yet...I can't belong... My music taste says so, My speech, My attitude or lack there of, My interests, My goals, The way I carry myself in room full of people. All these things that set me apart from you. Things that make me unique. Things that are a result of an environment so different from yours. Things that have made me unidentifiable... You call me white-washed, they see me as a relief. Relief...relief from what? The violence? The rap music? The ignorance? Relief.... Relief from stereotypes shaped by prejudices reinforced by systematic oppression, capitalism, and mass appropriation. You may say otherwise. You may look upon me in disgust, Think that I am simply too priviledged, Think my hair is too long, Think I speak to properly, But I do belong. And i will say so until you and the rest of the world Sees that I belong too.