Am I Racist Poem by Alexandre Nodopaka

Am I Racist

because I was born
lighter
over someone else born
darker

and is it because
I was taught
since early childhood
when my mind

absorbed information
of any kind
like a blotter sucks in
purple ink and that white

is the color of angels
and dark its evil opposite.
When in the darkroom,
developing negatives

I learned to look in them
for white spots and dashes
an streaks that indicated
blemishes to avoid at all costs.

Am I a racist because
Europe conquered Africa
with black powder and guns
and adopted its stylized art

as its own. In that case I am
and so is every one else.

~~~
Alex Nodopaka © March 2020