Familiar Scenerios

So familiar are discriminating scenarios.
My reaction to them,
Has slowed tremendously.
No longer quick am I to disbelieve,
I am followed to profile...
By my own people.
For expressing a pride for my own heritage.
And...
In a place where one's accepted identity,
Is suspect as a condition of nonconformity.
Meant to have me feel,
As if an alien from out of space.
Even those spaced out need not to prove it.

What has become,
Of freedoms to self express.
And be oneself.
Without,
The scanning of eyes from head to toe.
Then kept to stare,
Where eyes to not be publicly evaluating.
Oh yeah.
As if to be on an auction box.
The smaller the town, smaller are the minds,
Incapable to stop and prevent...
Their ignorance to value.

So familiar,
Are these discriminating scenarios.
That I must admit them missed,
Whenever I am visiting somewhere else.
And the people are actually acting as if...
Intelligent, thoughtful and consciously aware,
Of being more than objects scrutinized...
As if,
Not to have it realized...
That being human means,
Not being thought to be a novelty.
Only to pleasure and please,
Those who secretly find discreet places...
Where discriminating anyone is not done,
Away from others.
As much as it is in public kept to witness,
And validate their bigotry.

'To satisfy my curiosity.
In these old pictures you show me.
I understand your great grandmother,
A dark skinned Negro.
But...
Why is your great grandfather,
Dressed in a suit and tie?
Carrying a briefcase and smiling?'

'Hey...
Who knows.'

'Was he Creole or mixed?
He could have passed for white.'

'He was.
Who else in that picture is smiling?
And how many times have I told you,
My father use to call us 'mutts'.'

'Was he 'Your' father's grandfather?'

'That...
I really don't know.
But...
Look at what is written,
On the back of the picture.'

'UNCLE BOB?'

'I was not around to ask any questions.
Although I remember,
As a child taking a field trip to go...
To the United Nations in New York City.
And felt right at home.'