Privileged!
When you hear the word privileged
You don't picture a brown or black face
Because our privilege is one gotten through struggles and fights
When you hear the word privileged
Why is it white privilege
Black and brown privilege must be usurped
You too are privileged
So own it
Claim it
Don't apologize for it
We've gotten our privilege at the end of a noose
By the bite of a dog
From the water of a fire hose
From the colonizers brutality
We've gotten our privilege from marches
The lash of the whip
The back of the bus
From the policeman's gun
We've gotten our privilege from being strong
Determined
Unyielding
Surviving
So when you hear the term privileged
Own it
Claim it
Don't apologize for it
Because this is your country
No matter how you got here
This is your neighborhood
Your neighborhood before it was cool
Hip
Gentrified
In order to be perceived as privileged
You have to behave as such...
Don't let others tell you you're not entitled because you possess too much melanin
Don't let others tell you you're not entitled because you live in the "wrong" zip code
Don't let others tell you you're not entitled because your school isn't given the proper allocation of funds
Don't let others tell you you're not entitled because they hate you while secretly wishing they possess your lips, butt, shade, swag
Don't let others tell you you're not entitled because they think you're good enough to raise their children but not good enough to be their friend
Don't let others tell you you're not entitled
So when you hear the term privileged
Own it
Claim it
Don't apologize for it
Because you're beautiful
Strong
Determined
Unyielding
Surviving
You're entitled to all of it
So act like it
You're privileged
Don't apologize
We are the privileged ones!
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*This poem is dedicated to every melanin infused Homo sapiens... ranging from brown to black, to all our immigrant brothers and sisters in the struggle, to all the refugees, to all those who seek a better life for their families. I see you!
