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I am not racist

by mshairi

I am not racist; I can assert to the highest degree
some of my best friends are black so how can I be?

I am not racist, non-white people fill my work place
yellow, red and of course, the black race

I am not racist; you must see this isn’t an attack
after all, my boyfriend is black

I am not racist but it really is just a question of reality
black people simply have a different mentality

I am not racist, I had just gotten on stage
was heckled, took it badly and went into a rage

I am not racist but why do blacks sometimes act so odd
why are they always so slipshod?

I am not racist, racism is a common malaise
and we are all racist in many ways

I am not racist, together with their sporting agility
I admire black people’s natural musical ability

I am not racist! I am not being nasty or even unkind
I am just outspoken and like to speak my mind

I am not a racialist; another word I’ve noticed
is that different from being a racist?

I am not racist but…

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6 comments

1 uaridi { 02.20.07 at 8:34 pm }

I know, I know. You joined all the protests and matches, and did all the right things to prove you are not a racist, but unfortunately, YOU ARE. Your protest only shows how much of a racist you are.

It did bring a smile to my lips

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I am GLAD!

2 Stephen Bess { 02.22.07 at 9:11 pm }

Wow! That’s nice! I love that piece. It explores all the reasons and excuses that folks come up with to dispute their racist actions and attitudes. Nice!

Hello Uaridi! Where have you been, ausi? :)

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From one poet to another, that is really nice to hear. Thanks, bro:)

3 eemanee { 02.24.07 at 1:52 am }

very timely.

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Thank you, eemanee. Nice of you to drop by

4 zawadi { 03.01.07 at 12:47 am }

nice poem, but it felt bad. But great work :)

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Thank you, Zawadi

5 donworry { 03.28.07 at 10:10 am }

Great piece. It is obviously going to be uncomfortable to many people because it asks the individual to explore their own thinking. You’re on your own here.

Whilst racism is the thrust here I should like to see the reactions would be if we swapped race with the name of a particular ethnic group in, say, Kenya. Hahah that would definitely put the cat amongst the pigeons, ama?

Still, nobody will ever find a way to legislate in matters of taste, choice, preferences. I understand that the elders said Ngoro iriyaga kiria ikwenda…..roughly translated to: the heart chosses what it desires…… Whilst it is illegal to deny someone a job or service on the basis of their race nobody will question why I prefer to listen to Music by brothers and sisters…..know what i’m sayin?

6 Omani { 03.28.07 at 4:30 pm }

A creative and imaginative piece.The idea to explore the issue from anothers perspective is refreshing.It suggests a theme i find to be true, discrimination results from generalizations and rash conclusions about people we do not fully understand. Perhaps out of ignorance or fear none the less it is this misunderstanding that leads to awkward and embarassing cases of what in my opinion can be regarded to be racism.We are all unique individuals,perhaps by seeking to understand individuals as unique entities may make racism less a current and more of a past social issue to be forgotten.

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