Us and Them.

They say your nose is too flat your legs too thick your hair too coarse you can play the part but you will never be one of Us They say your voice is too glib your accent too clipped your smile too eager you can look the part but you will never be one of Us They say don’t make that joke don’t say that word it’s offensive it’s awkward you make Us uncomfortable They say don’t be so cautious don’t be so stiff it’s like you’re afraid it’s like you’re too cool you make Us uncomfortable I say I don’t want to be Their caricature to be a self-hating racist or a house nigger disguised in LL Bean neither here nor there I don’t want to be one of Them I say don’t be so narrow don’t tell me who I am I am weird brilliant complicated not an Uncle Tom a nigger a stereotype nothing They say can touch me