If She Let’s It (1992)

I believe this was written in October of 1992, when I was twelve, shortly after my second cousin was born — the first biracial child in our family. Though most of our relatives did not hold racial biases, and none were ever expressed in my presence, I was already keenly aware of racial dynamics and concerned for her future exposure to them.

I present this as a youthful perspective and evidence of early recognition of social systems and bias.

For the record, it’s possible I wrote this as late as 1994. I need to doublecheck if I wrote the date on the poem, but I do believe the only remaining copy that is not digital was rewritten into a later notebook. I might have to check in with that cousin on when she was born. It seems a small thing, but precision does matter.

If She Let’s It

She’s so young
And so innocent
She doesn’t know how to hate
Yet, hate is directed toward her constantly
Because she’s different.
She doesn’t have bouncy blonde hair
Or baby blue eyes
Or ivory skin
She has frizzy brown curls
She has deep brown eyes
And pale ebony skin
The hate darkens her skin
When she is grown she will know
The American Dream has been deserted
And that hate everywhere
Can be directed
Toward her
If she lets it.