I Am a Black Man

I am a black man

Born into controversy

Expected to fail

Statistics say I should be dead or in jail

I beat the odds

Got two degrees

“Your skin is the only reason you got these!”

Out of college and I got a job

“Affirmative Action gave you the nod!”

No kids

Or baby mommas

“You’re still all about the drama!”

Consistently told

“You’re a violent thug!”

But my homegirls say

“You give the best hugs!”

“It’s not hard to be black anymore!”

Thanks for the laugh!

Please tell me more

“You have the same opportunities as me!”

Yet, you think I went to school for free?

You’re so off base with your perception

Your thoughts should take a different direction

See and don’t discount my struggle

I’m not out here trying to hustle

Why do you view me as such a threat?

I work like you to get my check

So let us put aside this hate

Please, help me run this race

All of this because of my chocolate skin

I wouldn’t trade it for anything

I love the skin I’m in

I am a black man

– Author Jarrod Brown

Brown (c) 2015