An Outlook on my Community

I am from Milwaukee

BANG BANG BANG,as the bullet ricochets through the gun

Hearing BEEEEEP, 1, 2, 3, clear

The sigh of my parents after a looooooong day of work with little pay

The creaking of the wood floor as my brother comes and goes

While my mom yells, “you either in or ya out!”

The sirens at night, hearing them for only 2 seconds because they are in a chase

I am from Milwaukee

Where I am looked at as unwelcomed and in the wrong place

Teen pregnancies and alcoholics

Smelling hamburgers, hotdogs, ribs, and chicken

Going to play with the neighborhood kids but having to be home before the street lights

Where I hear I’m not racist, my cousin’s boyfriend is black

I am from Milwaukee

Where after 7pm Burleigh, Center, and Keefe are considered unsafe

3 for $1 bags of chips and frooties

Where public schooling sucks and many drop out

Block parties, BBQs, and get togethers

Where when we see 5-0 we feel scared rather than safe

I am from Milwaukee

Where your mom says go to the corner and back

Where if you’re black in America, your parents teach you what to do when you get pulled over by a white cop

When I say #BLACKLIVESMATTER others announce #ALLLIVESMATTER which is a protest to my protest

Where I hear, “Can I touch your hair?”

I am from Milwaukee

Where Backwoods, Swishers, and stollies are the next big thing

Where to get out of the hood they aspire by playing basketball or selling drugs

Where we have the highest segregation in the country

Fighting, abuse, and HIV are all on the same level

Where people use guns to protect themselves

I am from Milwaukee