Petrified
That was my reaction as soon as the man approached me
His words still echo in my head
What are you doing to that boy
I checked behind me and didn't see anyone
Out of nowhere, it felt like a spotlight was cast upon me
And I was the only one on stage
He said I was bullying the other kid, picking on him for no inherent reason
Looking at me like he was going hunting, open season
The same kid who he thought I was bullying was one of my closest friends of 11 years
But he didn’t know that
I tried to defend myself, but all I could muster were the words
No, I’m not
He threatened to call the police
One of my worst fears
I could imagine my family and friends in tears over the headline
“Unarmed 16-year-old shot and killed in Fremont, CA”
I didn’t want to end up on the front of a newspaper or t-shirt
Become another stat
I stood frozen, not knowing how to react
As we grabbed our bikes to leave
He exclaimed
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the police are outside waiting”
At this point, my friends and I left, fearing the worst of the situation
Petrified
That was my reaction when it finally hit me that we live in a world that's parallel to one of the past
My mom and dad always told me that one day something like this would happen
That one day someone will open my eyes to the real world
One where people still assume that someone of different pigmentation, someone who is human just like everyone else, is inherently a bad person, a bully, or even worse
A criminal
Instead of being institutionalized, today’s racism masqueraded by righteousness
People put on a mask that seems as if they are only acting with prejudice to be a force of change
Saying phrases like “I don’t see color” and “No, I’m not racist, I have a black friend”
Although we are living 48 years from the ’70s, acts and phrases like these create as a time machine, transporting us to the past.
Every time I walk in the downtown of a place that I call home
I get glanced, which makes me feel this isn’t a place I can call my own
Actions like these can be changed
Not by the constrained walls of ones phone
But by changing your actions into really making what you talk about a reality
For every kid of color you see
Even if you glare
Make it seem like you don’t care, and please do not stare
And every time you see something you are unsure of
Make sure you don’t rush to assumptions
Because for all you know, your actions may leave a kid
Petrified
Wow! This poem is super deep and touching. My favorite aspect was how you really made the reader slow down and think because it seemed as the the author did something bad, but this poem brings into question whether he was at fault or whether the person who assumed the author was doing evil was at fault. I also thought your choice of title "petrified" with repetition throughout made it powerful.
ReplyDeleteYour description of being watched and stared down everywhere you go is very well put. The way you described being scared for your own life was also interesting. My favorite part was when you were describing the man approaching you.
ReplyDeleteI like how you started with the story of how felt petrified. It brings the reader in to how you were feeling making the title all the more meaningful. The repetition united the poem bringing back the reason for your real message. I also like the subtle rhyming that you added. It added a rhythm without making it seem jovial. Really nice poem!
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