What's Like to Be An African Immigrant

August 17, 2017

What is like to be an African immigrant?

Before I come to school I put on a mask

A mask where I blend in as a typical American child

As I enter my class room as age 5

It was something new for me

I came in with a huge smile on my face

The one you see on Mickey Mouse

As I enter the class room

I notice my skin didn’t match

As I was walking to my seat

A bullet hit me went through my ear and digested in my system

Go back where you came from you don’t belong here

As those bullets of animosity hit my heart and soul

I felt a briny tear drop trickled down my face

Came dinky then speeded up like rainfalls

As I ran out the class room

Thoughts began to trek though my head

What did he mean by go back where you come from

I didn’t belong?

As I finally gather up he courage to enter back into the class

All I could do was wish for that day to end

When I went hope I stared deep into the mirror

I began to try to change the parts that was unacceptable about me

I tried to adjust my nose

Reduce my lips

Bleach my skin

Develop beauty

Try to be perfect as they say

But translate perfect in society terms

Keep pressing me to keep my culture strong

Don’t fall into these naïve American rules

This is just a little of what its like to be an African immigrant

At a tender age of 5

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