In your black neighborhood
Feeling out of place
A crowd of eyes trampling my way
They’re wondering why I’m around
Standing so still
I’m in a corner always anticipating
A awkward comment
From your foreign eyes
Will be thrown at me
In your neighborhood
I’m a awkward face
Staring with awkward eyes
Going awkward directions
In front of your gaping mouth
I’m not family to you
No I’m not your recognizable hue
4 thoughts on "In your black neighborhood"
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in louisville we were the 4th blk fam to move on the street; by age 6 only 4 white fams remained. couldnt wait to get away from us. lex has blk streets, but i have yet to find a neighborhood. everywhere here is white. im lonely everywhere.
Your poem makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s an important conversation for poets and artists to have right now. We need to help others get this right so we can all get along.
Love the last line of this poem! And the repetition of the word awkward! It’s a brave poem!
it is not the job of black/brown people to make you feel comfortable. there are many blended families where the faces do not all match. i belong to one. don’t stand in the corner. engage.