I Know You

can I ask you a question? this isn't meant to guilt you into knowing me. it's to alert you that you dont. you fail me before I stand, condemn me as I walk. but you dont know me. look me in my face & tell me I wont make it. tell a young, black girl what she cant do. ignore the hope in my eyes & the pride in my walk. lose my strong will & independency. who cares for about my endurance. pay attention only to the color of my skin and the ebonics of my talk. let me whisper my dreams and scream my fears. dont take that from me because you dont know me. dont persecute me because you dont know me. dont judge me because you dont know me. so, world, can I ask you a question ? am I worth knowing ?