I recently encountered the writings of Kevin Young , a contemporary African-American poet. This poem from his most recent book, Dear Darkness, reminded me of my own playground as a girl…"No Offense"
If you wonder why
I’m not laughing, go ask
Brian, the sixth-grade cutup
the one with the most dirty jokes
who requested the tribal African song
Tina Singu each music class, black
vinyl spinning while Brian made
faces, knocked his knees together
like eggs. If you are curious about
me, just ask the boy who riddled
the whole playground or me
& my friends walking
home: What do you get
when you cross a black person
with a Smurf? I am sure today
he would answer you, would explain
now that he meant No offense just
like he did then above the crowd
of girls leaning close or the boys
trying to get his timing down,
just as after the punchline
he always said You know I don’t
mean you. It’s OK. And when
you see that boy whose last name
I don’t seem to remember, be sure
to tell him that this here Smigger
could care less yet could never care
more, that my blue
& brown body is more
than willing to inform
him offense is one hostage
I have never taken.
As we remember the life and ministry of Martin Luther King, Jr., I reflect on becoming a mother of a bi-racial family. While remaining conscious of personal experiences in an attempt not repeat mistakes of the past, the commitment to keeping focused on moving forward is a much nobler task. King dreamt that “every hill and mountain shall be made low” and that “the rough places will be made plain” and this, too, is my dream for my children. I know they will hear harsh words. I cannot protect them from that. But my prayer is that they will be equipped with so much strength and love that such words will motivate rather than erode, prompt compassion rather than fear and ultimately bring them closer to their maker.
