Eye Contact,

lower your head,

occasionally followed up with a rhetorical "What's good?"

The person on the receiving end does the same

and then moves on.

To outsiders such body language is misunderstood;

It wasn't instructed during childhood

nor a topic of previous conversation

It's a greeting partly intuitive and off of observation

a unique salutation

fraternity-esque 

primarily used in a situation where few blacks exist

Don't misconstrue the concept,

Born and bred in the south

Saying hello to everyone is the norm,

This acknowledgement differs in meaning however

It's more of a:

                "Hey I see you

                Keep working hard 

                You got this!"

 

All said with one simple nod

Many of my white friends witness the exchange

expressions of bewilderment follow:

"Who was that? Do you know them?"

I respond 'no' yet  I do in a sense,

At Penn State, we represent 4 percent.

Some from the hood, some immigrants

Scattered like specks of black pepper on country grits,

As a minority, you gain comfort from seeing someone who looks like you,

Their struggles, your struggles

Their triumphs, your triumphs

Never a ritual of pity

But rather of privilege

Because despite how far we must go to close the gap,

We've made it where most couldn't

We don't stress

Our situation is blessed

And we continue to progress