Walttriznastories's Blog

grew up
in
small
midwestern town
surrounded
by
liberal friends
and
family
so
almost
forgot
i
was
black
but
couldn’t avoid
cultivated racism
even
when
protecting
a poor white friend
with
polio
as
he dragged
one foot
being
taunted
by
neighborhood bullies
he decided
to
side
with
his white tormentors
when
they challenged
his
whiteness
he chose
to
turn on me
that’s
how deeply
slavery’s caste system
has been
embedded
in
the social fabric
of
the consciousness
of
even children
lesson
learned
even
after
a
red hot branding iron
loses
it’s
visible signs
of
danger
it
can
sear
the flesh
burning
into
the days
that
follow