Justice, Not Revenge

Privilege is the hand that helps as we climb a ladder
Privilege is being able to go out without a cloak
Privilege is knowing you won’t be asked more of yourself than others
Privilege is feeling safe among all the other folk

Privilege is what we held on to
When we pretended to establish equality
If you ever had to pick yourself up after losing everything
You may begin to imagine the strength it takes to stand calamity after calamity

Even those of us, who haven’t meant harm
Have used the helping hands for our own climb
Knowing all too well in our hearts
who our climb was going to leave behind

We may have felt guilt, we may have sought repentance
Our hearts may have pained at others’ injustice
Silent bystanders so far, not knowing what we could do
Are being told how we could stand together this solstice

Let us learn to see another person
Beyond their biologically adapted trait to sun exposure
We all have color and we all wear a shade
Let us not hide any longer behind our masquerade

Let us have more faith in our abilities to seek and forgive
Let us focus on the efforts to amend
Let us be humble and thankful
That what’s being sought is justice, not revenge