Prejudice

By: Victoria Smith

 

I cannot fathom your resolve
to keep away from flesh and blood.
Could it be that your fear is greater
than your hope, your pride greater
than your love, your hatred
for their mother—a bottomless pit?
If so, I pity you then.
For we shall not pass
your way again.
I shall charge the wheels of Fate
to rip the loom of karmic cycle.
So I and my children,
and my children’s children
shall not have to bear with
the delusions of your small mind
made smaller by your persistence
in your ignorance, your constant need
to occupy our universe with your wounds.
And we shall finally be free
of your prejudice, your toxic shadow,
your unbearably common heart.
You’ve no idea what you’re missing.
Or perhaps you do.
And still.

Poet’s Notes. Sad to state, I really didn’t know what prejudice based on race actually meant or felt until I came to the United States as an immigrant. Having been blessed with an intellect that allowed me to have the best education in my native country (the Philippines) through full-ride academic scholarships, that in turn allowed me to be employed in some of the best firms and companies—allowed me to rise above my socio-economic class. Thus, as an adult, I was mostly treated as belonging among the elite of my people, which in turn opened a lot of doors for me. In other words, I was counted among the privileged in my homeland.

But after twenty-three years now in the U.S., I have learned to read both the subtle and unsubtle signs that some people may be discriminating against you simply because of the color of your skin, the shape of your eyes, or by your accent. Now don’t get me wrong. I truly believe and feel that Americans are still by far one of the most tolerant and accepting peoples in the world as regards immigrants. However, gradual changes in the socio-political dynamic of this country I’ve observed over the last ten years have alerted me to possibility of the seemingly radical developments we are now witnessing: the return to power of an extremely conservative white working class that appears to see all who are different from it in terms of race, culture, and religious belief as a threat against its economic and socio-cultural wellbeing. Their rise has been institutionalized in the election of Donald Trump, as the latter is likewise institutionalizing the prejudices of the electorate that voted him into power.

I wrote above poem as my reaction to a completely surprising personal experience of prejudice. At that time I thought, oh, this is what Blacks and Latinos must feel when they are faced with racism and prejudice. Now Muslims and immigrants, too, seem to be fair game to this type of persecution.

There is yet hope in that the socio-political pendulum always seems to swing to extremes in cyclical precision in this country. Thus, I say to my fellow Americans so approving of Trump’s racist policies and acts now: You reap what you sow. Besides this, my poem above says the rest.

(All rights reserved. Copyright © 2017 by Victoria G. Smith. For updates on her author events & publications, go to VictoriaGSmith.com. “Like” her on Facebook at Author Victoria G. Smith. “Follow” her on Twitter @AuthorVGSmith)