I’m a non-white, illegal immigrant, African-American, Jewish Orthodox, Buddhist

(Door slams)

Indian, Slavic, Islamic, Mexican-American,

(Bolts clasped [from the inside])

Jehov … #nameyourprejudice

(Soft whispers trail off into the quiet afternoon) …

~

Behind closed doors

Our world is safe now

As long as what we fear

Stays outside in the general public’s eye

~

Isn’t that the truth?

Don’t we oft spout off?

Speaking to the open minded need

We like to call

Inclusion

We write books, essays, and lecture each fall

To our Nation’s teachers

– a pressing mandate –

That inherent need to recognize each individual’s contribution

~

Our society is built on a fundamental premise –

“One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself”

Sophocles, Plato, James Baldwin, Wordsworth, oh yeah, Lennon

Shh … Jesus

… and those that remain

Angelou, Chomsky … #nameyouractivist

~

Isn’t TRUTH easily lost

In our incessant need to be right

To be recognized

To be powerful

To feel good about ourselves

At the expense of anyone else

Who might filter in with a comment?

A philosophy

A desire

A passion

A behavior

#nameyourentitlement

~

What is my reality?