CLIO’S POEM IN FULL
Black. White. Well, which one’s right?
If this is a race, who’s first and who’s last?
What, slavery. Let it go man, that was in the past.
Oh here we go again, you’re pulling the race card. Surely being black isn’t that hard?
Me, a racist? No, my cousin’s neighbour’s black. So tell me why I’m still affected by my supposed past.
I speak of my current oppression but for some of you, it was just a little history lesson. I speak because I am less, because I am oppressed.
I speak for the very simple fact that I am not like the rest.
We speak, so listen. Almighty God, hear my cry. I’m still having to say all this but why? I’ve seen a start but sure ain’t seen no end. I mean you’ve still got people thinking racism is all just pretend.
Oh, but it’s real. It’s very real. Nevertheless, let me not fail to acknowledge how far we’ve come. #melaninpoppin #equality.
#BLACKISBEAUTIFUL but I still wish to know whether I’m really appreciated or just fetishised. Yes, we’ve come a long way, a long way we’ve come but an even longer way we have to go, my darling.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve barely even started the journey. Get your seatbelts on because we’ve still got a long way to go.
Oh, how rude of me not to even introduce myself first.
Hi, I’m Clio. A bit about me. I enjoy crisps. I like to dance. What else? Oh and I’m black but I don’t get to say that part do I?
Why? Because I’m different, because it makes people uncomfortable. Should I whisper it instead? I know, I’ll spell it out, instead of saying the actual word.
B L A C K.
Does that make you uncomfortable?
Uncomfortable? You have no idea. No idea of the privilege to learn and not experience. No idea of the privilege to choose whether you want to learn.
So what are you going to choose? What is it going to be?
Turn a blind eye or show racism the red card?
