Monkey see, Monkey do.

Monkey see, Monkey do
 
It’s weird that y’all are okay to hear kids say slurs they don’t know the meaning,
of but know how to use.
You listen to our music and use our slang.
But I feel when you hear me we ain’t hearin the same thang.
 
Cuz when you mock me it’s pattin your head and cockin your neck,
 with this accent sayin  “girl your ratchet”….
It makes me angry but idk what to feel no more because when I look at the girls here that look like me, they take this and appear fine with the ignorance and the racism within this school.
Y’all love to say ghetto but you don’t really know what it is.
You’ve never seen it before and you don’t got ghetto friends.
 
And I don’t say this because you’re white.
Because I knew white kids I would get down with in the hood that actually knew what this word was.
But because most of y’all never seen the window cover off on the floor outside when someone tried to break in.
And the gate open and your grandmas things stolen from the inside of her car.
And y’all ain’t never seen about 12 people in yo neighborhood get evicted in two weeks.
Or gun shots at 3 am while you are having a sleepover with your home girls.
Or your neighborhood being on the news the same mornin
But y’all don’t know the feeling of mournin someone close, that was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
 
But because y’all already have your life set up for you from the day that you are born to the time that you grow older.
But because y’all got two married parents and complain about hatin your father.
But I’m grateful that I have a single mother.
That has done twice the things for me and my siblings
than what your two parents have done for you.
 
And I’m grateful to know that the meaning of ghetto isn’t loud and rude, but to know that I got ghetto friends that are loud and speak their mind.
That will fight with everything in them to stand up for what they believe in
Which I can say is more than you have ever.
 
And I know that they got me and wouldn’t snitch like most of y’all in this room.
But to know that they are one of the funniest and most beautiful to be around,
 cuz they know what it is to be real.
They know the struggle and work for what they want.
 
I wanna say just cuz a week or two flies by don’t mean it didn’t happen.
 If you associate with racists it’s prolly cuz you is.
How you gonna have POC friends and still stand around with that one friend that just asked your other friend if he just got done making a bomb?
Or singing “Ching Chong” and calling border patrol?
 
It’s not funny you sound dumb and ignorance ain’t cute, it’s ugly.
 
And how y’all still lettin these kids get away with sayin the “N” word and “F” slur and praisin hitler?
I like seein y’all throw up gang signs cuz you think it’s cool.
Back where I come from I know one of y’all fools woulda been shoot.
 
But also I wanna say y’all don’t know how triggering in is to hear y’all say that word y’all know you ain’t supposed to.
The one that starts with a “N” and ends with an “A”.
Or even sometimes an “ER”.
It’s like having your breath taken away and not knowing what to say about something that y’all don’t find to be a big deal.
 
My mama says to educate as the young educated black women I am.
But all that comes up in my brain is a bunch of hate for these kids whose parents taught them that it is okay. When they should be ashamed and outraged that there child is a racist pig of a person who believes that this behavior is in order.
 
How hard is it to just think?
Think twice before you say these hateful and heinous things.
 
IT’S A JOKE TO YOU BUT NOT TO THE PEOPLE GETTING MURDERED HERE EVERYDAY.
IT’S A JOKE TO YOU BUT NOT TO THE PEOPLE GETTING MURDERED HERE EVERYDAY.
IT’S A JOKE TO YOU BUT NOT TO THE PEOPLE GETTING MURDERED HERE EVERYDAY.
 
For the pigment of their skin or the religion, they choose to practice in.
 
So before you pull your eyes back or,
Bother that little girl about here mustache,
Or mock “that one Indian song”
Or ask him if he just got done makin a bomb…
I want you to know,
They got every right to punch you in your racist face.
 And make sure to tell your parents what you said and did before they try to go and build a case.
 
I don’t know if y’all ain’t got home training,
 Or you think it’s funny….
 But remember this poem the next time you tryna call somebody “Monkey”.
 
BY KERIONA JENKINS