I want to peer into this book and pretend
I don't have a problem
Please excuse the fact that I am black
And that my words are arranged differently
I cannot help the fact that "nigga" is a daily word
Like you cannot help the fact that your skin pales in comparison to mine
We were born into this way
I'm not really "ga ga" for us being born this way
Like I was born to be illiterate and ghetto
With animal-like savagery
And ripped through nappy hair
As if THIS
Is something to be proud
Be proud!
Be proud of who you are
You are smiling with your teeth while you hand me
Bleach
I want to tell you
That your rights are not as civil as you think
At one point I did not have the right to vote
Or marry
So I would jump the broom
only this time Laz Alonso is not there greeting me
It is real life
Meeting me
You want me to be proud
Are you sure?
Hand me a relaxer
while you smile in my face
And remember I once was told I would never be pretty unless I was you
Yes, try to understand
Your skin pales in comparison to mine
And I've tried everything to get my skin to be yours
I don't want to try anymore
Nobody has ever told me it's okay to be black
I wonder what's so civil 'bout that.