you say you're all for change.
     equality
          diversity -
i can question all i want,
     but you'll just repeat it back to me.

you say we're all the same.
     all on a level
          playing field -
the statistics say you're wrong,
     and yet you try to tell me that's not real.

you say it's not our fault;
     it's been "so long"
          since slavery -
and you look at me with mocking eyes,
     while i search for your humility.

and us women won the right to vote
     less than a hundred years ago,
          but you tell me i'm ludicrous
               when i say

                         i wish we would earn as much as men -

               you say "that's the way it's always been"
          and i'm "wasting" my time worrying -
     you say "we'll get married, we'll be fine,"
"we'll be home with our children anyway."

and i shouldn't ask them
     what they earn,
          
               cause then i might know to ask for more

     so i'll sit here wondering in my head
whether you've considered that before.

you say you're all for change.
     equality
          diversity -
those buzz-terms won't mean anything,
     until you practice what you preach.

you say we're all the same.
     all on a level
          playing field -
but colorblindness doesn't solve
     the problems that we're facing here -

you say it's not your fault;
     it's been "so long"
          since slavery -
but you don't seem to understand,
     that no one wants your sympathy.

i know you're not listening anymore -

     that's fine.
          i've gotten used to it -
     but there's some things you need to know
before i let you walk away from this.

"i'm not racist" will never change the
     meaning of what you just said,

          and

your "jokes" will never make me laugh,

          until you build us up,
               not hold us back.