We live in a country where skin color is used as the parameter to decide beauty
And English is used as the scale to judge intelligence
We walk around and hear the phrase, “Learn English if you want to live in America”
Like it was a casual “Hello” that came from somebody’s mouth
Like being an American was its own separate race
Like I should be ashamed of the race I was and
Discouraged for not being the race they wanted me to be
Those who hate me want me to leave
Those who say they love me want me to be their statistic
A number, a percentage, who among others are welcomed just to fit a quota
I am considered that token friend, that excuse for those who say, “I’m not racist, I’m friends with…”
I am just an object to those who do not respect the race that I am
But I know that I am more than that
I am someone who has overcame discrimination
Someone who has grown up with less than those around me
Someone who could say they made their dreams a reality
I am somebody more than just a statistic
I am somebody more than what you want me to be