plessy v. ferguson

black here
is evil. unknown.
impure. red is angry,
yellow is cowardice, brown
the shade of shit and dirt.
white is so pure
it stings.

and the light
between colors
is denied.

every attribute’s
been attributed
by someone who does not
own it.

go out and roll around
in the hues of the race.
see if then you can call me out
by the beliefs you’ve been fed.

when you’ve finished
give me a call here
in the dark and i’ll open
the door to my room
to you. i’ll hit the switch
and then you decide what you
want to call me. i know already
what to call you, but i’m willing
to change my mind.