“Them”, Are My People

To those of you who don’t see color, I am a Black woman.

         As such, you must be careful with your innuendos when I am in your presence.

         You cannot say to me, “You are not like them.”  Like whom? 

         Like my people?  What makes me different?  my speech?  my carriage?  because my parents were fortunate enough to have had higher education making me 4th generation college educated?  because my parents taught me that I am as good as any? because my spirit was never crushed? because my life was never viewed by me as hopeless?

         “You have not complimented nor elevated me when you say, “You are not like them: 

         Lord, lift them up where they belong.”

Lora Harrington Pride, The Village  9/2/26