poetry Archives - The Race Card Project

My Skin Color Poses a Threat

April 6, 2021 beauty, dallas, Mia Woodard, poem, poetry, police, Queen, skin color, threat, TX

Mia Woodard,
Dallas, TX

Because of my skin color, when I’m out in public I am looked at with disgust and spoken to rudely.
Because of my skin color, I am not always afforded the same opportunities as the next.
Because of my skin color, the Asian cashier in the beauty store follows and watches me.
Because of my skin color, I am an automatic threat to police officers, the same ones that supposed to protect, right?
Because of my skin color I’m held at gun point and killed for wearing a hoodie and having a pack of skittles and Amazon tea.
Because of my skin color, its okay for a police officer to put his knee into my neck, after I repeatedly said “I can’t breath”
Because of my skin color, it’s okay for a white person to comment racial slurs.
Because of my skin color, it’s okay for police officers to come in my home, without announcing themselves and kill me.
Because of my skin color, I don’t get justice.
Because of my skin color, I am stereotyped.
Because of skin color, I get a heavier sentence, than the white man who committed the same crime.
Because of my skin color, I am strong.
Because of my skin color, I am brave.
Because of my skin color, I am smart.
Because of my skin color, I am beautiful.
Because of my skin color, I am a Queen.
Because of my skin color, I am Black.
Because of my skin color, I am ME.

“We” – Muhammad Ali

July 2, 2019July 2, 2019 CA, Carmel Valley, Kelly O'Brien, Muhammad Ali, poetry, simple, we

Kelly O’Brien,
Carmel Valley, CA.

Muhammad Ali used to say that this is the shortest poem in the world… He stood at the microphone and turn both hands first to himself, and he’d say “Me”. Then he reverse his gesture toward the audience and say “We”. I’ve always loved this incredibly astute and simple act of his.

That’s my grandson, Liam, in the picture, by the way.

What is, uhmm, race is uhmm…

March 20, 2019March 20, 2019 atlanta, blinds, confines, crime, GA, Mahlon Gumbs, poem, poetry, Race, what is your race

Mahlon Gumbs,
Atlanta, GA.

What is uhmm…

Race is uhmm…

The thin line that

Blinds us,

Confines us,

Keeps us at home base.

If we cross that line

It’s a crime,

No matter the time;

Society will put us back in our place.

But what is uhmm…

Race is uhmm…

The thing about which we sing

Old negro spirituals

And perform rituals

With hopes of hearing freedom ring.

“Swing low, oh sweet chariot…”

And take us in the direction of Harriet

As she lays tracks to the underground railroad;

The underground’s *real* road to freedom.

But what uhmm…

Do we need freedom from?

Race is uhmm…

A curse that’s placed on all races

And plagues all people

In all places.

It’s a spell that enlarges our differences

To a magnitude so great

We can never see similarities;

Hence we learn to hate.

But from whence uhmm…

Did this hatred come?

Race is uhmm…

Here to stay unfortunately.

It’s forever usurping the sanity

Of humanity;

Disrupting our harmony

And clarity.

And as brother Shabazz said

Long before his last breath;

Like freedom,

The price of

Race is uhmm…

Death.

White is not absent of colour

February 5, 2015 absence of color, Elijah Chapple, MN, Morris, poetry

Elijah Chapple,
Morris, MN.

For the explanation of this I will use a poem written by a child from Africa:

Colour
When I was born, I black; When I grow up I black; When I go in sun I black;
When I scared, I black; When I sick, I black;
And when I die; I still black
and U white fellows;
When U born, U pink;
When U grow up, U white;
When U go in sun, U red;
When U cold, U blue;
When U scared, U yellow;
When U sick, U green;
When U die, U grey;
and U call me coloured

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