For them, if it were possible to be Black for a Day, perhaps then you would seek understanding:

If you were Black for a day,

You would feel the weight of this skin.

If you were Black for a day

Followed through stores and looked at as a criminal by some

Chastised for standing up

Demonized for kneeling down

Celebrated for your gifts

Envied for your culture

Executed in the street, in your home, and in your car.

If you were Black for a day

You would wonder what you did to make the world hate you

Question why your presence strikes fear in “them”

Ponder how the ugly has lived for so long

Postulate when you would be seen for your character alone.

If you were Black for a day

You would want the world to know

That even we are as different from each other as “they” are.

That knowing one of us is still not the same as knowing US

If you were Black for a day

You would also see how beautiful this journey has been

Through the burdens of this skin, you are stronger

Through the trials of this generational fight, you are made excellent

Through the distortions of history, you have had to dig for truth

Just to prove your existence and contributions are valuable and real

Through the centuries of oppression, “they” need not fear a return of the same treatment at our hands–karma does it’s own work

And if you were Black for a day

You would want someone

Who doesn’t look like you

To agree with you

That God loves us all

Not one more than the other

That He created variety–in His image

And that your life matters.