Tinted Windows Poem by Craig Mize

grew up poor in the ghetto,
With little money to my family name.
My father worked plenty of jobs,
My mother did the same.
But still hand-me down clothes I wore,
Busted shoes on my feet.
And every time you look at me
Through them tinted windows,
A nigga is all that you see

I worked extremely hard in school,
Graduated at the top of my class.
Now I'm called the valedictorian at last.
Went on to excell in college,
On the dean's list I sat year after year.
Graduated with a master's degree
But through your tinted windows
Still a nigga is what you see.

I'm older now, a successful lawyer now.
I was able to move out of the ghetto,
In a gated community is where I now stay
Got plenty money now, even a new name,
Unfortunately my skin I couldn't change.
I did eveything that I could do,
For you to see me differently.
But looking through them tinted windows,
You still only see a nigga.