Just because I live in the suburbs,
It doesn’t mean—I will disparage the inner-city.

Just because I am college educated,
It doesn’t mean—I am superior to my brothers.

Just because I have a high end career,
It doesn’t mean—I will shame the underemployed.

Just because I am healthy and secure,
It doesn’t mean—I will forsake the uninsured.

Just because I support my representatives,
It doesn’t mean—I will excuse corruption.

Just because I support law and order,
It doesn’t mean—I condone police brutality.

Just because I support our government,
It doesn’t mean—I will tolerate tyranny.

Just because I believe in freedom of religion,
It doesn’t mean—I will allow hate in the public square.

Just because I value freedom of the press,
It doesn’t mean—I will permit indecency in public spaces.

Just because I agree that all citizens
Have the right to protest.
It doesn’t mean—I must agree with all their grievances.

And most important of all,

Just because I was born into white privilege,
It doesn’t mean—I can’t be woke!
I can use my voice to speak up
Against inequality and try to make a difference.

By: ElRoyPoet © 2020

Commentary: Racism becomes deeply ingrained in our institutions when polite society tolerate bad etiquette rules to be implemented by white supremacists. American culture is like a moving walkway in the airport—we’re pulled toward racism and white privilege. Even if you’re standing still and not actively attacking minority groups, you’re being pulled in that direction. Until you turn around and move in the opposite direction and oppose people who say harmful things, you’re allowing christian nationalism to be taken for granted.

New rules make N.C. schools discuss racism. Some officials opposed the ‘anti-American’ change.

“Woke and cancel culture are both signs of a judgmental culture, not a mentally mature one. A world where you cannot even speak to another person without worrying about what they are going to think of you, has not advanced much from the days when the white people used to own slaves. Let me tell you this, if you are kind, if you are compassionate, if you hold no discrimination towards people whatsoever, then you have no reason to worry about whether you are woke enough.” By: Abhijit Naskar

“In the 60’s Negros had a very powerful faith in the decency of white people, but I dont have it now!” By: Roger Woods Wilkens, 1989, US Assistant AG 1966-69. Pulitzer Prize, 1973

“Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.” By: Charles de Gaulle

“You must not exploit a resident alien or oppress him, since you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt.” Bible, Exodus 22:21