Race-The Final Frontier Poem by Thoughts of a Single Man

What is the weight of a color

how does one measure what cannot be held by hand

and only seen with the eyes

are there ones that are more meaningful than others

like the blues of the ocean

when the waves are in motion

and the hues of the endless sky

tell me why

that we cherish the light

and bask in the glow of the dawning sun

but flee from the pitch of night

and consciously choose to run

why is it good is pure as the driven snow

and that evil has a black heart

where does it end and people truly start?

why is it often secretly said

that those who embody

the wealth of the tone of the body

always seem to have a neck that is crimson and red

what have we become

am I mistaken or have any steps really been taken

since the day of segregated life

when those of darker shades lay afraid in their homes

and blocked the doors

and were beaten and struck until their dark bodies were sore

as their spirits wept and their souls roared as one

does any one still sing we shall overcome?

what of the natives of this land who had their soil stolen

and now seek refuge and respect in the casinos

once reserved for the desert of made men

the comparative values of the dollar peso and the yen

the kaleidoscope of hope seems so skewed

and lately hate seems so renewed and is front page news

so many hurtful phrases

that were once left under the breath of a whispered hush

now screamed from the rooftops of the cities

while the victims names are not recalled

except for shrines erected on urban corners

and paint sprayed on tenement walls

have we really come that far from the pointed white hoods

when children are gunned down

if they are thought to be from the hood

or simply just wearing a hood

is there no danger from someone saying "Good morning? "

opposed the ones that inquire "What's good? "

the President called the 'N' word

an uppity socialist that should learn his place

when have you ever seen a President in a photo

with someone's finger pointing in his face?

so now the presidential race

is a presidential race based purely on race

it leaves bitter taste

in the mouths of those who still dream

who share the living dream

remember the words "I have a dream"?

what does it all mean to you now

is everything fixed because we no longer scrape and bow

when there are still so many racists

walking freely in their speech and actions

donning the hidden caption

of an famous quote of a legendary rapper

asking us "How you like me now? "

just because hip hop is embraced by so many

there are still many innovators who never received a penny

how quickly the fads fade of interracial romance

when every young Caucasian girl

wanted to save the last dance for themselves

when kids in the ghetto could not learn to break-dance

unless Honey from the suburbs

came and taught them and gave then a little help

just a few references from past to present day

perhaps many will pass over these words

waiting to comment on something more creative

a topic less native, less "debative"

perhaps some will secretly hate it

but until we can truly see each other as sisters and brothers

and for what is contained within

we shall always be victims all

to simply seeing the color of skin

until we all learn how to look with our hearts

not just our eyes and sincerely care

for it will not be space

but race will be the uncharted plane

we need to explore as out final frontier

a wise friend of mine who happens to be white

said on his job application when it says check a box for race

he scratches it out and simply writes "human"

the view of a perfect world indeed

the one that should be left for our children

that would be all boys and girls should ever see

for it is not power or money or social superiority

or to label another with the badge of inferiority

but love, like the Beatles said, is all we really need

so next time, please, free you mind and be a little kind

and don't just pass by with a glancing look

but stop dropp and READ


Thoughts of a Single Man 2012 tm