Poetry: The Same but Unequal

The Same but Unequal

I am just another black

But to them

I am not black enough

Set adrift on continental, color divide

While maintaining

The same imprisoned qualities

No matter what those judging me

Decide

As I ride

Will they think I am committing a crime?

Or

Will that black chick clutch her purse?

When I am not in my suit and tie

I didn’t grow up in the hood

My family didn’t struggle to get by

But you are telling me

Those things disqualify me

From dealing with the same things

That other black people have in their lives

No matter what other races

I know and socialize with

Doesn’t change the regular attacks and assumptions

Because of my deep melanin hide

And that especially includes

Many and their so called

Black pride

I don’t fit into your thoughts

Of what being black Is meant

Yet, I deal with the same

Injustices, surveillance and shit

Since my blackness is unequal

Don’t look to me for that

We family or brother man

Filibustering façade

Remember

I am not black enough to be black

But black enough to get

Wrongfully accused and shot

Yet

I am the same in others eyes

But to many of the blacks

I am just in no man’s land

I am the

Divide

From the chocolatezeus collection  11/16/17  ©