About

I am from Germany, from across the sea

I am from a military family, and I tend to be bratty.

I am from being born on American soil to moving around the U.S.A.

I am from two parents who both had the last name Jackson but never got married

I am from two separate castes, both black and white, but never jointly.

I am from growing up as a child with my white mother’s privilege, but now live my adult life with my black father’s liability.

I am from the one-drop rule, which limits my abilities

I am from a great, great-grandmother of an American slave, who helped build this country.

I am from ignorance as a child about race in our republic to being considered a “bro” at 35 years old when the old white man tried to stab me.

I am from not being “black enough” to not being all “white”; because of the confusion of my melanin, I was told that I was a “fake ass Puerto Rican” and excluded by all three.

I am from having what is considered “good hair,” so my black high school teacher pulled it because she, please.

I am from hating my hair’s texture and trying to relax it, so it lays down like my white colleagues.

I am from being considered “exotic” like spices in a chef’s recipe. In other words, a person without dignity.

I am from being “too” assertive and outspoken; therefore, I am considered “angry.”

I am from “dirt being richer than we were” to now feeling wealthy.

I am from being considered gay, yet; I am bisexual in-reality.

I am from owning who I am even though my own family said I would end up with HIV

I am from growing up Christian to now feeling lonely

I am from Rochester, NY, a place that is not emotionally safe for me.

I am from a two-dog household that provides unconditional love all for me

I am from a place of being human if only you could accept just a little of me.