AAPI MONTH
I Am Not Invisible
But You Constantly Try to Erase Me
originally published in Cultural Daily on June 16, 2020.
She interviews for the same job —
the nicely dressed Black woman.
You hire me instead.
You feel good. Equal Opportunity.
You sleep in your bed dreaming dreams while the Black woman’s dream is to find a job — any job.
I am a feel-good number.
You don’t want to know who I am.
I am tired of being stuck in the middle.
My half existence.
I have my own battles with trauma and racism. I don’t need yours too.
I do the work and keep my head down.
You give me a paycheck. I put food on my table.
You don’t know who I am.
You’re not sure where I’m from.
My eyes make you wonder.
I see it when you look at me.
You want to put me in a box,
but don’t you know I’m always the Other?!
You cautiously approach me with your curiosity.
It is not good what comes out of your mouth.
I was born here, just like you.
You want to tell me that you’re curious and
I want to tell you that your curiosity is not kind…
