BLEND
By Kaila McAlpine
Diversity to me is residing in a blender that hasn't been turned on
Being a minority growing up is tough
I'm surrounded by a majority
White students
White teachers
White this, white that
Your dark skin
No, no, it's different
Take it back
But no
Continue to express yourself
I'll give you an award for academic excellence because you're black
You tell me to share my culture
Then you make fun of it
But no, no, now you take it back
"Because I'm black"
And I am different than you
Highest racial minority
Despite being 13% of the population
We are diverse
My culture is stolen
My skin bleeds from the blackness stripped away from my soul
Whitewashed and powerless
I'm trapped in a hole
I can't climb out
My diversity is my skin
My thoughts
My culture
My ideas
Not a trend
It's exploited and watered down
But no, here's an award
Black excellence
Black girl magic
Blackface
Back out
"I don't see color"
Stomp on my spirituality,
But I must remain tough
Ignore the color but take the product
You don't see color?
Well, I don't see enough
I see your color
Paint the world with your skin
I stand strong
I stand tall
Don't poison me with your sin
Your straight hair
KylieJennerLips
Big butt
Instagram trends
How do you describe my friends and I?
"Oh, that group of black girls"
Or the Mexicans working at your job
"The weird kids"
"Nerds"
"You know, the girl wearing the Hijab"
But the truth is
The more we surround ourselves with people like us
We become empowered by everything that makes us the same
And non inclusive to anyone with a foreign name
Don't just display diversity
Like a cake on display
Look but don't touch
Don't just display diversity
We have different skin tones
Noses and such
Don't just display diversity
We stress representation in the media and the shows our children watch
Don't just display diversity
To the little black girls perming their hair so it'll be just a little straighter
Don't just display diversity
And be satisfied with progress that is undone
Don't just display diversity
When we can continue to go so far
Don't just display diversity
And scream "cultural appropriation" at anyone who explores outside of their comfort zone
Don't just display diversity
And be complacent with unfinished business
Don't just display diversity
I stress because inclusion is one step closer to making amends
Don't just display diversity
Embrace the blend
© 2019 Kaila McAlpine
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A Girl I Used to Know
PoetryCollection of poems, free writes, and pieces I've written from a young age up until now.
