"Undefined"

Dianna Harris, 17
Calumet City, IL

I walked out under
the sun one day.
Lured by its brightness.
Walked in a daze
backwards,
and I was brown(ed)
I hadn't realized
that skin color
could equal status
Wore it like the protective coat it was(is).

Walked in music store
store clerk took one look
past me.
Said black music was to my right
in the back.
Cross the water.
Sectioned off like Africa

This girl stopped me,
Infuriated.
Wanted to know why my hair
was waving at her.
Told her my great-great grandmother
laid down in the Pacific Ocean,
carried so long by the waves
her hair mimicked it.
She gave it to me.
She popped her lips and said.
"Whateva you know you mixed
Black gurls ain't got good hurr"

Out on the playground,
me and this white girl
decided to play hopscotch.
She drew this line between us.
Boxed me in like standardized test
(No check box for human)
I was confused
I didn't get it for a long time
I stood positioned so
that I stood in her shadow,
I didn't move
Instead ripped at my skin,
trying to find this light individual
who could intrude on other culture
and not be defined by color lines.
Turned around
realized I was no longer in her shadow
and that she stood in mine.
(When the sun settled)
Stepped out of that box
pulled her out too.

Looked at her
Pulled a rainbow from my pocket
and asked,
"Is there a distinctive line separating these colors?"
She answered no.
Placed my arm next to hers and asked again,
"Is there a distinctive line separating these colors?"
She again answered no.
"So that makes us (humans) our own unique rainbow
of shades."

I am not black
I am not African
American/ Non Hispanic
I am Human
Undefined by stereotypes