JUDGE ME BY THE COLOR OF MY SKIN

JUDGE ME BY THE COLOR OF MY SKIN

 

It was a dream of the Reverend King

For a better life for his offspring;

Not to be judged by the color of their skin;

Not their outer shells but the character within.

 

 

But MY dream has a slightly different spin,

For I find no fault with the skin I’m in.

While inspirational are the dreams of the Reverend,

Feel free to judge ME by the color of my skin.

 

 

The Word says, judge not lest you be judged.

But judgment from others I never begrudge.

The act of judging is not where the sin occurs,

But it’s the faulty judgment that irks my nerves.

 

 

I cannot presume to speak for anyone else

These words and thoughts arise from within myself.

While motivational are the dreams of the Reverend,

Please DO judge ME by the color of my skin.

 

 

For in that skin, there’s no shame, just pride

In those who wore this skin before us and died

For freedom from bondage, oppression, and fear,

And the numerous other freedoms we hold so dear.

 

 

We cherish the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King

That content of character become a truly valued thing.

Sensational are the dreams of the Reverend.

But feel free to judge ME by the color of my skin.

 

 

There are those who judge out of irrational fears,

Believing every narrow-minded word that assails their ears

But I refuse to lose blessings promised down through the years

By doing likewise because of their slurs, sneers, and jeers.

 

 

I too dream the dreams of Reverend Doctor King

“My country tis of thee; sweet land of liberty” I also sing.

But I’m also singing and shouting to all who will listen

Please DO judge ME by the color of my skin

 

 

Judge me and label me an “angry Black man”.

but the reason for my ire is your cryptogram.

Don’t try to understand me, that’s too much work.

Continue allowing my existence to drive you berserk.

 

 

I cannot presume to speak for anyone else

These words and thoughts arise from within myself.

While motivational are the dreams of the Reverend,

Please DO judge ME by the color of my skin.

 

 

The Ethiopian can’t change his skin, nor the leopard his spots.

however, when the leopard is just a cub, spots he has not.

As for the Ethiopian, he has many shades as kin.

But even the blackest of black Ethiopian is proud of his skin.

 

 

Don’t let bigotry and bias put your mind in a spin.

I’m simply a man who’s proud of his skin.

And while I find truth in the dreams of the Reverend,

Feel free to judge ME by the color of my skin.

 

By Ronald Brown