Stereotypically Speaking!!
Performance Poetry...
When
I
was
a
teenager
an
Asian-American
classmate
once
remarked:
"You
don't
act
like
a
Black
person.
They're
usually
loud
&
always
cracking
jokes."
My response to this stereotype was silence.
What I wanted to say was: "I hate to break it to you but Black people come in all varieties and demeanors!"😱
"According to your narrow & biased mindset... I am supposed to… become Mrs. Bojangles… every time I see you… with a well-worn… Court Jester hat on my head… and a pocket full of jokes… at the ready… for the masses…?" 🤗
"Remember classmate…
I am NOT…
nor is my race…
solely here to entertain yours…
or anyone else's…!" 👍🏾
"ALL races are here…
on God's green earth…🌏
to nurture one another…" 🤝🏾🤝🏽🤝🏻🤝
"Please remember that… the next time that… YOU… decide to spew this… foolishness into… the atmosphere…!" ✊🏾
########:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Epilogue: Sometimes silence is golden. I'm glad that I responded the way that I did because there is a 98% chance that my classmate meant no harm. But, I do believe that stereotypes CAN negatively infect a young person's mindset and they're downright silly. What if, as a young person, I had embraced the stereotype and steered away from writing because Black people are supposed to partake in more "LOUD" professions? I just may have missed my calling. A wise person once said: "Life and death are in the power of the tongue!" I agree. Therefore, we must be mindful of the way that we use our words, Beautiful people.
########::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Peace!
About the Creator
Tiffany Gordon
I am a super-spiritual, fun-loving artist, writer, & peer-counselor residing in the Pacific Northwest. I am also an Institute of Children's Literature alumna who enjoys writing about the triumph of the human spirit.
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Comments (7)
I couldn't agree more with you.
A timeless and relevant piece no matter when you read it. I find so much wisdom within the stories that you write. Another young/old soul on a second life journey to this world. Vocal you are for sure.
Wow! I never saw this one until today. Very well said...All of it. And Thank you.
I appreciate the truth and love you show in your works. Thank you for sharing your story :)
Re-read! Previously hearted!!!
❤️people want to put you in a category. God made us all different. People think we should act a certain way .Excellent poem
I have read this poem several times now. An important message!