Overcoming The Whitest Of Speech Impediments

Justin finally tracked down a copy of Langston Hughes's The Panther & The Lash, (take that public library!) and has his second interaction, this time with the actual text.

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My Privilege Has Nothing To Say But It Will Speak Anyway
Justin Strock

My privilege has nothing to say, but
it will speak anyway - it's wont and whatnot

My privilege has nothing to say,
but its ignorance does
My choice of your text, based solely on lyrics
by rapper turned actor
In the grand tradition of fake gangstas playing
faker detectives
The real crime of their acting, unsolved
reparations of vaudeville

My privilege has nothing to say
about the way your verse seems plain
Stark
as if the anger in your soul
Stripped adjectives allusions like acetone
the varnish coming off in patches
The hues removed from pale wood not lost on me

I have
(and yes I am looking for your mocking approval)
Marched in traffic
spewed forth on social media
Stood up against admittedly uncomfortable abercronies
to defend a muslim kid at prayer
A marine at my side
Mecca's position shifting parallel to the view of huddled masses' avatar

I consume mindfulcinos daily to stay woke
Can I get a gold-star back-pat cookie now?

My privilege has nothing to say
about gentrification
Except that I have an excuse
for moving to Bed Stuy

about how little has changed
Since Leontyne belted out of darkness

My privilege has
grown weary of the echo in my skull
First assumed as chorus