21st Century Indian
It's ok that I'm Native American:
If I am attractive and half naked,
If I am uneducated,
If I speak in broken English,
And sing Christian songs.
It's ok that I'm Native American:
If I am passive and subdued,
If I smile all the time,
If I fit the stereotype,
And am not opinionated.
It's ok that I'm Native American:
If I suffer memory loss,
Don't want to know my peoples' history,
Remain idle and submissive,
And can forgive genocide.
It's ok that I'm Native American:
The kind that was in old movies,
Who said how and heap big time,
Make a mockery of tradition,
Sell out to avoid confrontation.
It's ok that I'm Native American:
If I accept my lot in life,
Stay where I'm told to stay,
Sit down and shut my mouth,
And allow others to think I am inferior.
That is what they tell me,
Before they turn and walk away.
When my existence is their shame,
They refuse to listen and then they say:
"It's ok that you're an Indian".
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