you say that loving the same *** is worth hating.
you say that these people
for their unchosen sin should be paying,
but deep down, you’re the same.
you wake up every morning
hating the same day.

you say that another skin color is what they should be wearing,
but really, you are also truly despairing.

you tell them to be this,
and be that.
you tell them that they’re too skinny,
or too fat.

you tell them how to be and who to be—i wish you could see through your hypocrisy.


because all colors of the rainbow are pretty.

because every size is alright.

because these people try with all their might.

because being different shouldn’t be met with fright.


let us all dance together





and fade into this beautiful night.

“Oscar, de dónde vienes?!”
As I hear the rich ****** attempt my native tongue
My tongue goes native with quietness
A long stare, I don’t dare to say a word
I don’t care to even dare to say a word
I’ve gone through this before
I can write you a history book on the history
of me being discriminated
I can show you my profile on being profiled by you
Any season is a good season to give you a reason to question my allegiance to this flag
In Trumps presidency, it’s ok to ask this
It’s ok to ask if “I’m a illegal” because I don’t look like you people
I’m part of the 52 percent that get asked this because of my accent
But I will prevent you from hurting the minds of the innocent
You call yourself American but I’m from 2 of the 3 America’s with full knowledge of all Americas
My rice has more culture than your entire structure and whitewashed culture
Your ignorance doesn’t translate these rolling Rs that your daughters love
“Oscar, de dónde vienes?!”
As I hear the rich ****** attempt my native tongue
My stubborn tongue refuses to give in to your oppression
But for a second I catch my reflection and see my parents
I smile, “I proudly come from Ecuadorian parents”
And I walk away leaving the ****** red and embarrassed

Southerners said “You’re white!”
They’re black, and that’s not all right,
But you’re okay because you’re white.”
But that’s not right because I’m not white.
I’m sort of a pasty pinkish beige
So, why is it the rage to say white?
And black? That is usually the wrong tack.
I know people that say they are black
And others yak about black folk
In hateful, racist jokes, but they too
Are not black. They’re color runs from
As light as a cup of milky tea
To the color of a kukui nut.

So what is this black and white crap?
It’s a trap for some who don’t know
What to call other people because
They’re trained to call other people
Some name besides just people.
It has to be what color people
Trained under school bell and steeple
To talk this way and veer away
From the point they are making,
The risk they are taking by seeing
Something else besides a human being.
Instead they focus on something unreal
And therefore manage not to feel.

It’s really so sad, and so demeaning
To zap so much meaning from someone
Who has a life, loves, joys and pain;
Let's remain aloof from giving names
And incorrectly worded colors to them.
Don't pretend that you are being kind
When you teach yourself to be blind
To the beauty and the joy of boys
And girls who are not from your race
And to replace love and opportunity
With fear, suspicion and enmity.
It is quite simply a common tragedy.

They chose to call it The Freedom Tree
Because in their ultimate wisdom
They felt it represented all of mankind
And their famous bid for freedom.
But all the while they didn’t really intend
For all the people to enjoy it.
They meant the right people in their laws
And selectively chose to employ it.

It stood in the center where battles were
And where some patriots had died
And from the beginning they ignored many
And abused them far and wide.
They argued that they were not really people
These of color or unaccepted belief
Then subjected them to the very horror they
Themselves had come here for relief.

So this was The Freedom Tree so named
By some kind of patriotism that chooses
Who gets to live, and love and prosper
And in the end, decide who loses.
Maybe they should have chosen a name
That said what they thought was right;
Maybe the name should have been
The Tree of Freedom For Everyone White.