Closer To A Black Man Poem by Reginald Goodridge

i don't think they really understand
the life of a man with a black hand
the misconceptions
the stereotypes blast, with clear reception
you'd figure it was a world wide block party
they figure me dumb, nobody's smarty

but I respect those views
i've hated self; both black and brown hues
and now I'm stronger
meditated, prayed, reflected, longer
sat at a Taoist temple for 2 hours
with a broken legged grasshopper's powers

seeing the world, from a small place
wanting to travel, meaningfully erase
all that is bad, evil, about darkness
skin, just skin, just melanin has sparked this
world wide block party, and I'm the muse
I dance, I rap, I dribble, I sing blues

I can't be their doctor, though I fight to be
nor their lawyer or judge, cause they ain't respectin' me
but scrub their floors, yes, that's cool
guard their wealth, yeah, I can do that too
but be an equal, oh, hell 'fu**ing' NO!
this positions for the fair skinned, not you - NEGRO!

but I smile anyway, yes massa, you right
and they ain't just American, their European tonight
and last week the same game, they were Asian
even those to the north of my continent claim differed blends
what can I do, but be free, speak my mind
cause I'm wrong when I'm wrong, and dead by the time I'm fine

it takes such a long haul, to get closer to me
and you wouldn't believe the injustices I see
yet I smile and keep tappin' at this world wide event
the happenstance of my melanin, who am I to lament
its natures endowment and a blessing some how
my God, you have not forsaken me, I know, still black, still proud