Sorry For Being Black

Black is a color but not the color of my skin.

I was taught from early on to love the skin that I'm in.

Although it seems as though society has not been filled in.

I can no longer let you hold your authority over me.

In case you haven't noticed, I have some places I need to be.

This poem isn't meant to put a smile on your face but to put your ignorant comments to waste.

I’m sorry that you can’t see that I am not featured on Teen Mom or shaking what my momma gave me in a video

I’m sorry that I obtained higher education through the public school system and made my face known

Better yet made my name known because once I'm grown you'll see it again

and you'll say to yourself, "She did it again."

I’m sorry that I don’t pretend to be someone that I'm not and choose to wear my hair in its natural knots.

I’m sorry that I didn’t grow up in the projects and had a family that chose to project excellence regardless of our circumstances.

I'm sorry that I didn't need Coach, Gucci, or Louis to make me feel up to par

because I was simply in the process of raising the bar

I'm sorry for not wanting to sport expensive cars and sit around and eat caviar

I'm sorry that a plate of fried chicken, collard greens and macaroni and cheese does my stomach justice

I'm sorry for living my life according to my plan and not allowing your plans in the White House to keep me depressed

I'm sorry that no matter how much money I make, you find a way to take and then label me middle-class

I'm sorry that I'll have more class than you've had because for me  being a lady is not just a fad

I'm sorry you want me to be like everyone else

I'm sorry that you can't see who I plan to become is greater than your income.

Pause.

There’s no reason for me to be sorry for my advancements.

I’m sorry you’re too blind to see that I’m going places far beyond the sea.

I’m sorry that you can’t see past what I circle in when I’m taking your standardized test.

I’m sorry you are unable to hold an intellectual conversation without expecting ebonics.

I’m sorry you can’t realize that what my ancestors bled and died for, is what I’m living for.

I apologize that you’ve filled your head with lies and now you’re stuck asking yourself, “How?” & “Why”?

I'm sorry that my growth is stunting yours.

I'm sorry that you've entered stores and became tense by watching my people walk in your stores.

I'm sorry that you weren't prepared when Michael Jackson took the world by storm and Barack Obama helped those that were affected by storms

I'm sorry that's you're too narrowed minded to expand the possibilities that one day, one day your people will be working for me but I'll be sure to treat them equally.