Cultural Identity Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

From your perspective.
How important is cultural identity?

'From my perspective?
As I see it or believe it to be? '

As you 'see' it.

'Well...
Today as I 'see' it,
One's cultural identity,
Is expressed most effectively...
When funding solicited,
Becomes available.
People want to get paid,
For displaying their identities that way.'

And...
What are your beliefs?

'That depends on which environment I'm in.'

Explain.

'In some environments,
If funding is not extended...
Displaying one's cultural identity offends.
As if to do so requires permission.
And the doing is treated like an event,
When and if this permission is given.'

Hmmm.
I see.
And when you are not in such environments?

'I'm not reminded that my kept identity,
Can be explained by a connection I might have...
To being either West Indian, Rastafarian.
Black.
Or an empathizer to my ancestry or heritage.'

Hmmm.
I see.
That's interesting.
So as you 'see' it and with kept beliefs.
In which environment do you feel most comfortable?

'That depends on the time of the year,
I choose to travel away...
From my own hometown.
When funding expected is less.
But either way,
My identity 'culturally'...
Is something seldom I do to address.'

So you are a maverick? A rebel of sorts?

'No.
But I must admit,
Getting paid to exist...
Just to be who I am,
Is becoming much more of a priority...
Than I had believed it could be.
Perhaps you can put me in that category,
Of being a late bloomer to realities.
Realities others have used effectively,
For many years.'

OH.
So...
It really isn't about one's cultural identity?
Or the names called.
The oppression done.
The opportunities taken to have them fade away.
The disrespect.
The, the, the, the...self hatred.
The, the, the, the...social disgrace shown by others.

'It is.
To a certain degree as to how it is kept.
But...
I'm beginning with belief to see it this way,
Why give away just the milk.
When there are those willing,
To pay for the entire cow.
And...
At a price that cow determines.
For me...
Having cultural identity,
Is becoming more perceived...
As my personal business plan.'