How Do We Believe In America

I’ve met some good cops
One of my best friends fathers is a cop
Makes it hard to say ACAB
Cause yeah there are good cops
But George Floyd’s murder was on tape
And we were still praying that Chauvin would be convicted
How do you believe in America as the nation of freedom
When black men and boys don’t have the freedom to walk down the street?
When black girls don’t have the freedom to sleep in their beds?
When Asian women don’t have the freedom to go to work?
How do you believe in a system of justice
Where people in positions of power are almost untouchable?
Where people with darker pigmentation in their skin are victimized
Victim-blamed
Victim-shamed
Where people who go out in the streets to fight peacefully for human rights
Are shot?
Are gassed?
Are handcuffed?
And beat?
How do you believe in America as the land of the free
When young children trapped in the wrong bodies are denied freedom?
When young people in love can be yelled at and hurt and shamed for simply existing?
When the older generations refuse to acknowledge the problems they have created for the people they are leaving behind?
When all of my best friends are scared of the future, of growing up and losing ourselves?
When I look at the next generation and I want to say “I’m sorry”?
I’m sorry that you’ll have to go through this
I’m sorry that you’ll have to clean up your parents messes
I’m sorry that you’ll have to look at the terrible world we live in and find a way to accept it
I’m sorry that you were brought into this world without your permission and now all of its problems are yours to stress about
How do you believe in America as a place for everyone
When the people who come here seeking refuge and help are put in cages?
When mothers and fathers are separated from their children?
When the people in charge care more about legality than humanity?
How do I believe in America
When I know that I will have to kick and yell and scream and fight for every right and freedom that I should have by nature?
When I know that there are people who will hate me for me without ever getting to know me?
When I know that the same goes for all of my friends?
When I know that I’ve met so many people with endless potential who will be silenced and shot down before they get a chance to shine?
How do we believe in America
When we have to scream as loud as we can to be heard?
When we have to yell for justice before it can be served?
When we have to apologize to the people who come after us for everything we have done?
When we have to fight for what America promised us?