My Blackness

I'm tired of trying to prove my blackness

Just because I'm light in the winter

You see my natural glow/tan in the summer

You see my afro hair

I have family members that are as dark as you

It's in my DNA

I'm Puerto Rican

I'm mixed 

I'm a little bit of everything

Black, white, Native American, Latina, etc. 

Stop referring to me as just white

Because that's not the only thing I am

No, I haven't seen all the classic Black movies

But I have seen, "Do the Right Thing"

And I met Spike Lee at Afropunk

No, I don't know all the lyrics to classic rap songs

But I know the song, "The Message"

Which is still relevant to today

No, I can't remember the dates of important black historical events 

But I still know black history

Which Amanda Seales has helped me learn more about

I identify with black culture

Because they don't praise people that look like you and me on Telemundo

Like how they keep casting white Latinos instead of Afro Latinos as lead roles

In West Side Story

Most of my friends are black

And I have learned about their different cultures

I'm learning basic French and Creole and I understand some Patois

I'm always at a soca fete

I love j'ouvert and getting wet

I grew up listening to 107.5 WBLS

I watch BET 

Kanye is my husband in my head

When I am in a room with all of you,

I know hip hop is not dead

I support black businesses 

Because that's where money should be spent

Instead of giving it to a government 

That acts like we're not heaven sent

Stop calling me white

Because it's not right

I'm not no Rachel Dolezal or Kim K. 

This is not for play

And it's black people calling me white

Making me feel like I don't belong

When I have stood up for and supported you all along