Society Tells Me

Society tells me that I am whitewashed.

But society also tells me that I am uneducated and presumptuous.

Which one is it?

Nothing could possibly hurt more than just wanting to be myself, but I am

constantly being judged and critiqued based on stereotypes.

Put into categories to help people define me.

Society tells me I’m too black for the white kids and too white for the black

kids.

And no

there is NO middle.

I'm told that my name is white,

and the fact that I get Dunkin donuts and Starbucks, makes me white.

I was told that I was white for wanting a tropical smoothie…

Tropical smoothie.

I can't do anything without being called white.

And I’m only considered black when I fit the stereotype.

I’m black when I can sit there and rap every lyric in a rap song, but that

card is shortly revoked when I choose not to sing the n-word or ask if we

can listen to Taylor swift instead

 Society Tells Me

I’m black when I decide I’m gonna wear my biggest pair of hoops to school,

but then that card is once again revoked when I decide to pair those hoops

with a basic outfit

And god forbid I even look in the direction of a white guy,

because then I am then considered a white man's whore.

But when I look in the direction of guys whose skin is just like mine, I am

rejected without even being given a chance.

Rejected for being too loud.

Too rude.

Too obnoxious with an attitude.

And too ghetto.

Because that’s what all black women are right?

That’s what society tells me.

And finally I’m black when I can address and acknowledge the problems

that I and fellow people of color face in the world.

The fact we are being held down by the standards of society but the

MINUTE I decide I don’t wanna dwell on those problems.

At least not today.

Society tells me

I’m whitewashed.
 Society Tells Me

I am ignorant.

And I’m oblivious to the fact that my skin color is brown.

And even though I’m brown.

Am I the good kind of brown?

Because society classifies us into 3 groups.

The dark skins - who are highly overlooked

The brown skins - Nothing's really special about.

And the Lightskins - My goodness are they goddesses.

Everything about them is perfect

And lucky for them they were blessed to be kissed by white DNA because

lord knows if they didn’t, they’d end up just like the dark and brown skins.

And the dark and brown skins should be jealous.

Jealous of the way boys constantly praise uplift them, while tearing their

features and qualities down.

And jealous of the way their hair falls below their shoulders.

The way it bounces with every step they take.

Well my hair doesn’t do that.

It doesn’t fall below my shoulders

nor does it bounce with every step I take.

Oh sorry…
 Society Tells Me

my natural hair.

This…

This is a mask.

A mask I use because I apparently struggle with my identity.

At least…that's what society tells me

I’ve been told that I should choose not to embrace my natural hair, not only

by people's words, but by their actions.

“You have weave because you have no hair, right?”

because supposedly it’s not possible for black women to retain long hair.

And If I choose to wear my natural hair it’s a shock to the world, and people

begin to snicker amongst each other about “how I looked prettier with my

braids”

While others treat me like I’m a panda in a zoo exhibit, as they stare in awe

longing to pet me.

And as easy as it is to just sit there and giggle and pretend like the jokes

are funny.

They really do influence the idea I have of myself.

It’s a whole different version of an identity crisis.

When all is said and done

 Society Tells Me

And I can’t help but to contemplate my role in the world and who I want to

be.

To question whether I am who society tells me I am or if I’m merely a

product of my environment

I look in the mirror and I tell myself, screw society.

And screw your stereotypes and categories

I won’t change for anyone.

I will continue to sing Taylor swift, while drinking my mocha frappuccino.

And I will wear my hair however I like.

Screw what society

Tells

Me