Tag: the other

Worth

~ Vanessa ~ 1 Comment

I want to know of my ancestors.
Yet the epic of colonialism,
Has for generations,
On multiple lines, kept faces, names, and ties
From kith and kin;
Kept us inextricably separated by imagined borders;
Separated with skins and flags of
fabricated colors;
Holding weapons and wealth
Unequal, unequitable,
As motive
For a status quo of harm,
Because just maybe one day
One of “us” will be on the “winning” team,
With change in pocket
And blood on hands;
Yet when in the moment of judgment
Will you be able to
Confess honestly
If any of it was worth it,
As we finally face our
Ancestors.

Tears of Privilege and Oppression

~ Vanessa ~ Leave a comment

I am sometimes stunned
By the blind privilege
Of the most well meaning,
I will cry for you that you have been wronged,
But I will not do myself and others literal harm,
To make your unease go away,
I will not do so simply because you weep,
For here I am weeping because of your attack,
You are privileged from where you cry,
But you expect me give away more,
Because you speak,
Your platform is your privilege,
Your class, your skin, your gender, your orientation,
And you say this is your first time
Feeling oppressed,
As you maintain your right to do the very thing,
Of which you do complain.