It Is Your Turn

First, they came for the Mexicans

and I tried to speak up, but no one took me seriously

because I am not Mexican

Then they came for the dreamers

And I tried to speak up, no one took me seriously

because I’m not a dreamer

Then they ignored Puerto Rico

and I tried to speak up but no one took me seriously

because I’m not Puerto Rican

Then they ignored the Virgin Islands

and I tried to speak up but no one took me seriously

because I’m not from the Virgin Islands

Then they called my sister countries shit holes

and I stood up once again because this is too much

So I donate my time, my money, my effort and energy

I let my sisters and brothers know that we are ONE

When the racists come

brown and black are all lumped in together

So remember, we’ve been here before

this is not the first time that hate has dominated a nation

It’s not the first time that people of color are demeaned 

It’s not the first time that we’ve seen hate and ignorance in the white house…

and it won’t be the last

…

When we complained about the society’s ills

you said we were exaggerating

when we complained about racism in hailing a taxi

you said that couldn’t have happened

when we told you that we were being abused by police

you did not believe even when we showed you the videos

when we told you that elections have consequences

you continue to vote against your interest

when we told you that racism did not die with the election of Barack

you were hopeful and wanted a path forward

When we told you that 45 didn’t create racism in this country

you seem to have amnesia and forget all of the above

when we tell you that racism is the foundation that built this nation

you seem to quote some bullshit rhetoric that still proves that fact

So

Don’t tell me to get over it

don’t tell me that that was years ago

Don't tell me that slavery is over

don’t tell me I’m using the race card

My reality is different from yours

when you ask me to march

I say, nope, it’s your turn

I'm tired of marching

when you ask me to stand with women in sisterhood

I say, who did you vote for

I've been standing, oftentimes alone

So…

It's your turn to march

it is your turn to speak up

it is your turn to be hosed

it is your turn to be set on by dogs

it is your turn to understand my anger 

So go on and march

…It. Is. Your. Turn. 

Inspired by…

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

by Martin Niemoller

The Privileged Ones

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!

###

*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!

Dear White People

Dear White People

If you’re offended by the title…then you may be too sensitive and not open enough to hear the truth or deal with reality, so maybe you shouldn’t continue. Maybe you should start a #DeleteWhereIsMyVagina campaign because it doesn’t fit your sensibilities and offends your white privilege. Maybe I’m being insensitive to your entitled proclivities and will never understand or maybe…it’s not about you.

Where do I begin? Everyone wants to boycott and march and #delete without taking a deeper look at what is really happening and why. And I’m not saying that you shouldn’t do any of these things, I’m simply asking, do you understand why you’re doing it and why it’s necessary? 

These are some of the issues as I see them…and this just scratches the surface.  First, should I  remind you that 53% of white women voted for trump? Do I say how foolish it is to accuse Luke Cage (Netflix) of being too black. Do I talk about Netflix’s upcoming original series “Dear White People” and the rush to call it racist because of what was shown in a few seconds trailer? Might I remind you that the trailer showed incidents that happened on real life college campuses. Were you outraged then? What about the Muslim ban? You wanna talk about that? Statistics show that most criminals are American-born. Most radicalized terrorists are disenfranchised people who entered the country legally. What about hate crimes committed by non-Muslims? No, you don’t want to hear about that? Well, just one…the Oklahoma City bombing, the Mosque in Toronto, the Charleston church, Tucson shooting, oh, I said one. Why aren’t these folks called terrorists? Terrorists are only from Muslim countries? I didn’t know that.

What about Planned Parenthood? Most of the services they provide are not abortions but general women’s health care, including birth control and yearly check-ups, in essence preventative care. A matter of fact, abortions and unwanted pregnancies are on a decline for the past several years.

What about how horribly the Natives are being treated? What? That’s a moot point, their lands were taken hundreds of years ago? Oh I see.

And the rhetoric from the politicians. If another politician says that this country was built on values of inclusion and kindness and this is not what we’re about, I’ll puke. This country was built of the backs of slaves and immigrants and the have and the have-nots. So, all this bullshit that’s going on, is exactly what this country was built on…we just need to not stand for it.

Anyway, my point? Take a look in the mirror. When was the last time you stood up for a fellow citizen that didn’t look like you? Make decisions that take your community into consideration. If you were born here, where were your parents born? Where were their parents born? …and where were their parents born? What if they said you had to leave? How would you feel? Oh yeah, it wouldn't happen to you because your white privilege wouldn't allow it.

This is a nation of immigrants. A nation of hypocrisy. A nation that should include all of us, not just white people. So, don’t tell a black person to get over slavery, just as you won’t tell a jewish person to get over the holocaust. Until you’ve walked a mile in another man’s shoe, you will have no idea. And remember, it’s NOT about you.

So, you can protest and march and #delete and be reactive to a situation or you can be thoughtful and proactive and prevent a situation.

I’m Now Awake

For the past 8 years I’ve been asleep

I slept in complacency 

I slept, knowing that the man at the helm

was inclusive

had my back

Really cared about people

I slept not having to worry about my rights

My rights as a woman 

my rights as an immigrant

my rights as a minority

my triple whammy wasn’t bothering me

so I slept comfortably

 *explicit lyrics

Day one I cried with joy

I voted for him

Day one was an amazing prideful day 

I saw new registrants in record numbers

people who never voted 

came out in droves

they woke up with pride

they wanted to be a part of the legacy

a part of history

We believed we were seeing change

so we then slept comfortably

8 Years later I am still beaming with pride

but now a new fear has awaken in me

I can no longer sleep 

complacency has left me

I’m up now for I see that satan has come

trying to undo all your work

So I’m up now

he wants to send us back

So I’m up now

no longer can I sleep comfortably

I can no longer sleep

For the past 8 years I’ve been asleep 

Today, I no longer sleep in complacency

I am now awake, knowing the man at the helm

Is not inclusive

no longer has my back

Really do not care about people

I’m awake and worried about my rights

my rights as a woman

my rights as an immigrant

my rights as a minority

My triple whammy wasn’t bothering me

so I used to sleep comfortably 

I’m Now Awake…

written 1-28-17