Slam Poetry: "I am Mixed and I Love it"

I Am Mixed and I Love It

Mixed-ish is what I am

A pinch of salt mixed with a shake of Pepper.

I love who I am

Even though some still do not understand.

This isn’t 1967. Not even 1980 anymore.

Haven’t you heard about the 14th amendment?

People are allowed to love who they love;

My parents are allowed to love who they love.

We are not aliens.

We are still human beings.

Our skin tones can vary,

Looking more black, white or beige.

I am more of an orange tone,

But that doesn’t define me.

I am Black, I am white.

But most importantly, I AM MIXED.

Now don’t say you’re sorry,

because we know you’re not sorry

You did nothing but judge us.

The American Melting Pot?

More like the American Melting Not!

The American Making fun of you and banning everything you want to do and not letting you live your life, not letting you into the country unless you’re being smuggled to work in a cotton plantation until…

SOMEHOW STILL IN 2022…

we still don’t have all of the opportunities that every

Straight,

Middle-aged,

White,

Man does.

It’s not your fault that we’re mixed.

We’re proud that we’re mixed.

This is a lesson;

Not a grievance.

I am an Oreo Cookie

But all blended up

Grinded.

I don’t know how others see me

On the outside…

And on the inside.

Do I act Black? White?

Do I look more Black? Or more white?

How will the police see me?

Will they look at my natural hair as they’re driving by?

My crown.

Will they stop and yell at me saying that I am a dangerous Black girl?

Like Breonna Taylor,

Or Atatiana Jefferson?

A Black girl.

Even though I am a mixed girl

Why should I even have to worry about this?

I’m fifteen.

My childhood zoomed right past me.

Especially when I look like this.

Or will I pass as white?

I don’t want either.

I want people to see me as mixed.

Because that’s what I am.

MIXED.

Now, enough with the stereotypes!

Yes, I am tough,

And yes, I am graceful.

Race doesn’t have determine that though,

I get both, my toughness and my grace from my Afro-Canadian father,

And I also get both from my Caucasian mother.

But I’m not just that.

I am smart,

I am kind,

I am trustworthy,

I am powerful,

I am peaceful,

I am passionate,

I am optimistic,

I am bubbly,

I am BLACK,

I am WHITE,

I am MIXED,

I AM HUMAN.