Hi. We have a guest blogger this week. In her words, it’s a poem written out of frustration. A question asked if conversations about race, between friends, should ever be this hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Dear Friend, this is new
Must be a first?
A conversation we can\u2019t have,
Between me and you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m confused even more
As if 2020 hasn\u2019t brought enough,
Are we really at a point,
Where we are questioning us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You ask me about BLM
To what seems like your support,
Until I say something challenging,
Your narrow train of thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Dear Friend, Black Lives Matter because\u2026
\u201cNo!\u201d You shut me up
\u201cAll Lives Matter!\u201d you say,
I say, enough is enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wow! I ask myself
Is this really you?
But the look upon your face is saying,
No, it\u2019s not me, it\u2019s you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahh, so here we have it
I\u2019m the problem now,
Because you\u2019re not willing to understand,
The who\u2019s, the why\u2019s, the how\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Had you have given me a minute
To explain a little more,
I could have shared with you why,
For me and many others, this is still very raw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut slavery ended years ago\u201d
\u201cAnd there were white slaves too y\u2019know!?\u201d
Yes, but there are things today,
That you\u2019re appearing to downplay\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re making a big deal; my other black friends say so\u201d
\u201cAnd may I just say, it goes both ways y\u2019know?!\u201d
Oh really? Tell me more,
I\u2019m happy to listen, I implore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Dear Friend, this is more than just opinion
This! Is what gets us nowhere,
It is exhausting,
This! is what causes division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why does it make you so uncomfortable?
It\u2019s just another conversation,
Between friends, no pointing fingers,
Or words of indignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut if we stop banging on about it, Racism will disappear\u201d
\u201cI\u2019m sure you will agree, it\u2019s just not that bad here\u201d
I am telling you it is,
For example\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh please, you\u2019re just making a fuss\u201d
\u201cIt\u2019s just a faze, let it go\u201d
If I had made more of a fuss these years,
I\u2019m convinced, there would be no us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is my frustration
I\u2019m not angry, vexed, or irate,
But for eff-sake, won\u2019t you listen to me,
I thought you were my mate?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSee, I told you, you\u2019re angry\u201d
\u201cAnd my patience is wearing thin\u201d
I\u2019m sorry, is it my words,
Or my brown, mixed heritage skin?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t see you like that\u201d
\u201cI just don\u2019t see colour\u201d
Then here we have a problem,
If we\u2019re not seeing each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy can\u2019t we all just get along?\u201d
\u201cWhat exactly have I done wrong?\u201d
I haven\u2019t said you have, have I?
Now you seem upset, why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Dear Friend, we\u2019re not getting very far
It was just a conversation,
I\u2019m not asking you to make a sign,
And rally across the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re making me uncomfortable\u201d
\u201cCan we change the subject now?\u201d
Urgh! I guess I should just shut up,
Before we get into a row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If only they could see how they are part of this solution,
Just by simply listening,
That\u2019s all!
This isn\u2019t about substitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Institutionalized and systemic racism,
Is embedded within this unrest,
But refusing to listen,
Is something I am starting to detest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Dear Friend, Is it time to turn the page?
Why won\u2019t you listen?
It\u2019s really simple,
Y\u2019know, just engage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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