I am tired of my race being degraded
Because others have bought into their stereotypes
Because you know what
I know a ditsy Asian cheerleader,
I also know an Asian ******* the Science team
One part Times at a Chinese restaurant
The other at the local grocery
I know a black man who is kind and caring
And he works at a bank
I know a black man who thinks he’s entitled to my body
With no job, because two hundred years ago
My ancestor hit his with a whip
I know a Mexican girl who was an anchor baby
Her parents came here illegally and made a life for her
They got their cards a little late, she rides horses on the side
I also know a boy’s who’s parents went through all the right channels
Both are jobless and he’s failing every class
I know white kids who are dumber than a box of rocks
Who think they’ll make a living off of video games and ball
I know white kids who try so hard to rise above
The ignorance of the past
So stop degrading me for your ignorance
Do not define me for the stereotype of my race
And I will not define you for the stereotype of yours
Race is not a definition
Nor does it entitle you to a thing

So none of this “reverse racism” crap
Racism is racism
No matter who it comes from
So let me say again
Race is not your definition
Nor does it entitle you to anything

With all the stars we steal from the night sky
To put into our poems and words
It’s a wonder there’s enough left to light the night

All the times we’ve darkened the sun
With our ink filled clouds of art
It’s a wonder it still shines enough to spark the day

With every time we have hidden the moon
With our black and bleeding hearts
It’s a wonder it still glows throughout the deep gloom

With the amount of the sea we’ve borrowed
To let drip in salty dark tears into paper
It’s a wonder the fish still swim about bellow the blue

All the leaves we’ve taken from scarlet trees
With our desperate need for beauty
It’s a wonder the trees don’t stand **** in autumn wind

With all the sadness we’ve brought out of the world
To make our work worth while
It’s a wonder any still exists to dampen the hearts of the thoughtful