Kneel

We kneel on a stage meant to stand,

because of those who cannot breathe,

and those black men who resemble black men,

so they must be the bad men,

who all look the same.

Others convicted by dark skin,

while wearing hooded sweatshirts.

A crime punishable by a line in the sand,

and a stand in the dark.

It’s not enough to follow their words,

and do as they say.

Because in a dark car, to some, a wallet looks like a gun.

And a peaceful man with his family,

is a child-abusing drugged thug.

A raucous New Years Eve with friends

invokes privilege for some to sleep it off,

but drawn guns and death for others,

all depending on the pigment in your skin.

Asking for change isn’t enough,

it doesn’t work because it’s different for them.

The people who are free from words that cut,

and vile sneers laid over hundreds of years,

cannot fathom oppression.

It needs to be shown in every sense.

Shown through protest on stages not designed for protest,

Shoved in the face of the blind so if they cannot see it,

then can hear it.

If they cannot hear it

they can feel it.

If they cannot feel it,

they can taste it.

And if they cannot taste it,

they can smell it.

People need to stand up for people.

Stand up to oppression.

Stand up to bigotry.

Stand up to hatred.

Stand up to racism, sexism, and homophobia.

And if you cannot stand up because of the weight of the blind,

kneel.