José with an é
I am José… with an é
My name reflects my culture, but it burdens me with insults over my citizenship status.
I am bilingual, Yo soy bilingue
Yet they assume I only speak Spanish, Pero asumen que solo hablo Ingles
I am not wealthy
nor do I feel I ever need to be
I am gay
But both my culture and parents despise those words.
I am a dancer
Performing is the only time I feel free.
I am a farmer
I have created life and given it to the dying community surrounding me.
Although I am all of these things, there's so much more hidden.
I am myself and I want to help others be here.
I may have a long way but I see the trail of who I am
Others may need help
Those who have received it worse than I have
Those who had less privileges.
Those who take nothing for granted
From
the Homeless,
Self-hating,
Abused,
Even those who look fine.
They might not see the pride in their name
The intellectual capabilities from their language
The prosperity in their surroundings
The love in one's true self
The available passion
Or the possible opportunities for something greater.
I am the Change, the Revolution, the Innovation.
I am the advocate for those who starve until they receive lunch at school
I am the voice for the youth who have to do unspeakable things in order to survive
I am the representative of my culture as I wear all of myself with pride
I am the explorer of different intersections between languages
I am the kid who likes to read books,
who likes to play with my sister,
who hates ketchup,
who hates homework,
who loves to laugh.
I am just like Everyone else.
Everyone is vital in some way
Yet others condescendingly imply that they are more important than others
I know that I am important,
as Important as You.
I am the combination of Words, Feelings, Struggle and Passion.
I am an ever growing seed reaching its peak, sprouting and germinating
time and time again
Because my story keeps evolving
from an Herb
small but passionate
to a Flower
vibrant and wanted
to a Bush
full of a plethora of rewards but full of thorns
to a Vine
reaching higher heights
to a Tree
feeling as tall as I could ever be
Then as a seed falls…
A new story continues
Every line that is read, every shift in the text
they are all new seeds
I am José with an é.
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