Lets Talk Stereotypes: Race

We are Latino, We are Hispanic, We are Black, Asian, Indian, Muslim We are everything, everybody is everything Yet you call me a terrorist, a rapist, a thief, someone who “destroys society” Although I am ashamed to admit that we make mistakes Our reputation falls apart with every bad apple Like the one domino that pushes the rest down On and on But they can’t get back up unless someone picks them up No one has picked us up yet Today, we push ourselves off the cracks in the cement sidewalk And get back up All they’ve seen is the dominoes falling down But they haven’t paid attention to us When we were so carefully set up to avoid toppling over Like our confidence when our toes hit the asphalt road That the metal we fear isn’t going to wrap around our wrists Like the stares that bite through my self-esteem Spinning in and out of existence As the curses strangers jinx me with carve into my back Wishing that I could “leave their country” Or asking why I am who I am Does it really make a difference whether your skin is dark or light? Does it make a difference if you’re Latino, Hispanic, Black, Asian, Indian, Muslim Or anything you are? We will not be the dominoes that fall over with a single blow We will not push each other down We will stand strong with our hearts above our heads We will be us, ignoring our differences because Everybody is everything