By Amirah A,“Yeah, I’m definitely moving to Canada…”
It’s November 7th, 2016
The day after Donald Trump wins the presidential election
and my best friend is complaining to me about America
While she shares the same thoughts with millions of others
I just can’t help but disagree…
A different perspective, you see
My grandparents are immigrants
They moved to America in their 30’s and had my father and uncles
My grandmother learned English by listening to the radio
She birthed three baby boys
One of which would happen to be
The father of me
A different perspective, you see
I was born in New Orleans
The home of Mardi Gras and red beans
My first 10 years were spent in the Big Easy
Where there’s a far majority White
I’ve known racism and White Supremacy my entire life
I’m an acquaintance of frisking
And a good friend of “extra pat downs”
I am no stranger to discrimination
Cause unfortunately
My half-White ancestry goes unnoticed
at TSA
But anyways…
Here’s a different perspective, you see
America is my home
Anywhere else I’d be a refugee
The soil we stand on holds a piece of me
So while president Trump grips my home in his child-like hands
And throws it around like a bullet in a game of Russian roulette
(quite literally)
We should be working our way up to take it away
Because this country is not a toy for him to play with
Here’s a different perspective, you see
This country was built on the bones
Of Native Americans
Of African Americans
Of Hispanics and Japanese
And everyone and anyone that has ever fought just to speak
So while you may want to abandon this place for another
I’mma stay right here and put mine back together
Piece by piece
Another perspective, you see
I am not willing to give up my home so easily
Because my brothers and sisters did not work so hard
For this measly outcome
For injustice, for corruption, for racism
And every other kind of -ism under the sun
They broke their backs for us
They swam cross oceans for us
They went through hell for us
And we’re just going to throw it away?
I don’t think so
Because my grandparent’s efforts to give me a better life
Will not be thrown away by those who despise us
I’m not moving to Canada
Because I have a different perspective, you see