do you see her?

a girl trying to survive

this world carrying opinions of

her race and gender

on her back?

do you see him?

a boy filling out his application

for a job and just praying

his future employer

gives it to him

regardless of the spelling

of his name?

do you see her?

the woman who buys creams

and soaps in hopes to become

as light as baby powder?

do you see him?

the father working two jobs

earning minimum wage

and doing work on the side

just so that he can provide

for his family?

do you see her?

the old lady who lives across the street

who still remembers

hearing the news of the lynching

of her youngest son

like it was yesterday?

do you see him?

the boy who is afraid

to tell his white friends

that he is attending Morehouse

instead of attending Georgetown?

 

do you see them?

the parents having a sit down

with their ten year old son

and telling him that he needs

to be more careful

because anything he does

could result in his death

at the hands of a “defenseless” cop?

do you see us?

the people trying to fight

for our rights as human beings

while still trying to keep each other,

our culture,

and our integrity alive?

do you see?