Black. Brown.Yellow. Orange. White.

My friends.

That is how they look.

Not who they are.

//

My black male friends are not scary nor violent.

My black female friends are not loud, rude or sassy.

I am not.

//

My brown friends are not a threat to your safety.

The beards and the hijabs are not to be afraid of.

They are not here to kill, they are here to live.

//

My yellow friends are not living so you can feed into the stereotypes.

They are more than what the media says.

They are more than your preconceived thoughts.

//

We are not here to make you comfortable or to tend to your tears.

Your white tears are blurring your vision,

So, I beg you, wipe them away.

You would see who they are; past their skin and past your fears.

You would see that they are kind.

They are talented.

They are intelligent.

They are complex.

They are human.

I am human.

They deserve to be respected and you do too.