When I was a child
I remember my first
Bout with racism
A thing I never knew
Even existed
Martin had a dream
But died without seeing
It fully competed
My dark skin
Still dictates my oppression
A product of what
I've seen I still can't forget
How little me felt
Tears streaming down
As my sister walked me away
From the front of our neighbor's
I didn't understand why
A boy we had know
For most of our lives
Would be so cruel
As to spit at me
And say I wasn't allowed
To walk on the sidewalk
Was I supposed to walk in the street?
I remember telling him
That the sidewalk was public
Not owned by him but by the city
But my sister knew
Sadly she understood
Though she was only
Three years older
She knew what he implied
What my young mind
Couldn't comprehend
That it was the color
Of my brown skin
And that dream
Of an amazing man
Is still just that
A dream in the clouds