What’s it like, I wonder,

To go down the street

To meet up with friends

To walk through a parking lot

Without being afraid

Or disrespected

Or stared at

 

Does anyone know, I wonder,

How it feels to be unjudged

Un-insulted

Un-discriminated against

Based on sex

Or on religion

Or on ethnicity

 

Will we ever escape, I wonder,

“Fire!” being more effective than “Rape!”

“You shouldn’t have dressed that way”

“Take it as a compliment”

Or will we be stuck in fear

And embarrassment

And silence

 

Someday, I know,

Women won’t be afraid

Muslims won’t be ashamed

Blacks won’t be lessened

Because we will accept

And protect

And understand