white people

Hello, reader. How are you doing? I thought you might like this poem about white people. Or you could find it offensive and hate it, then hate me. But if so, maybe you could learn something along the way.

What’s writing on the internet for? Learning is my goal. I think a lot about how we’re allowed to do something a little different–not too different! Reading a buncha stuff we already think is so boring. Right? It needs to be different, but not so different your hat falls off.

Or your socks can’t be blown off. Well, once in a while your socks can be blown off! I’m thinking brightly colorful socks with kelly green and cartoon cats. What color socks did you imagine?

Well, here’s the poem. I hope you perceive I feel sympathy for white people, what with the eating disorders and poor fashion and neurotic suffering.

I know so much about white people because I mostly am one–my dad was white. Also “some of my best friends are” white.

Me and Ming are talking about race and power All Day. Yes, you can be jealous. We have a great family and community besides.

the poem in question

worth

White people, you are so good at putting yourself first.

White people, you are so good at doing gender–

gender was made for you.

White people, you excel at pettiness. 

White people, the ways you perform your worth are so legible.

White people, your eating disorders make me cry.

White people, I’m sorry about your fashion.

White people, is it lonely at the top? 

White people, I see you worry about being scrutinized.

I’m sorry you hate yourselves.

White people, it must be hard to control everything 

while pretending you don’t control everything.

White people, I see you reflected 

in the faces of your mixed race children.

White people, I see you in relationships– 

how the power dynamic shifts for you.

White people, you pick up neuroses 

because it’s so hard pretending to be something you’re not.

White people, I’m sorry you scramble 

to hide the ways you’re white.

I’m sorry about your bland food.

White people, the meaninglessness of your lives 

leads to so much recreational capitalism.

White people, money will never make you safe.

White people, it must be painful to fail

in a system that’s rigged for you.

White people, you can’t ignore your shame forever.

White people, you measure out approval with an eye dropper.

White people, I’ll teach you how to love–

come here and take your clothes off.