The Face Of Hypocrisy Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Racism is such a complexing,
And multi-faceted entity.
People who claim they are not,
Racist.
Will be the first to defend,
Aged and old beliefs...
Connected to isolation,
Division.
And a lack of understanding,
Other folks for who they are.

So...
After your visit,
To The Museum Of Racism.
What lasting affect,
Did it have on you? Emotionally.

'Well...
None of it,
Have I yet to experience.
I mean...
Up in the face.
All out and blatant.
Not like it must have been,
In your day.
Afterall...
It is 2021.
And things are different.
I'm more confused,
Then anything else.'

Confused?
Confused by what?

'There was this one room.
Labelled...
The Face Of Hypocrisy.
And in it,
Hung this huge portrait.
Every ethnic face there is,
Appeared in that one portrait.'

And...?

'I am still,
Trying to understand...
If there is a meaning.
A message.
Or...
A reason why,
One portrait was picked...
To hang alone in that room.
And...
At the end of the exhibit too!
Makes no sense to me.'

You haven't lived long enough!
Knowing how to present,
And stage events...
Kept to keep remembered,
Is key to any curator!

'Cure-ater? !
LOL...
You 'old' folks sumthin else.
Cure-ater.
LOL...lol...
That's funny! '