Privilege

Posted by Brad Osborne on June 17, 2020 · 23 Comments 

 

 

I did not choose to be born white

And I have never owned a slave

But I recognize your plight

And the equality that you crave

 

In all the speeches I have heard

Which cried out for some action

I listened to all the pretty words

But change never found its traction

 

It is hard to accept what you allege

That my life has been one of ease

Maybe it is harder to see privilege

Like seeing forest through the trees

 

I want to think I am not the problem

But my inaction says it best

If I do not now rise with them

I am as bad as all the rest

 

I have stood by for too many years

So blind to what you go through

I now clearly see your tragic tears

And must do all that I can do

 

I once fought for this great land

And all the things that we believe

But this country cannot be grand

While our people so ready grieve

 

I am done with doing nothing

We all deserve to live free

I will kneel for change to bring

To see you privileged just like me

 

 

 

Filed under Poetry · Tagged with acknowledge, blindness, color, ethnicity, introspection, life, Life lessons, poem, Poetry, privilege, protest, race, racism, stand up, strict form poetry