Belief

My youth budded in a small town
      where I came 
To know the world, at least the world
      I saw.

In school I studied math and
      state capitals,
But my core came from the people
Where words like wetback and nigger
Came as naturally out of the mouth
      as Mom and Dad
With no thought of discrimination.
I wrapped my arms around that world
      and held
On because it was what I had,
      it was mine.

That time is long since past and
      now I learn
From a larger world. My thoughts
      are about
Individuals and groups, not races.
However, some races have segments
More worthy of my contempt than others.
When this is mentioned the cry
Of racism is loud and shrill.

Decisions represent bias and
      discrimination -
From the person we marry to the route
We select to go to work each morning.
The self-righteous will say all are equal
And stand on this platform as
      pure nonracists.
But we are not all equal.  Oriental children
Come to America and in five years not only
Learn the language but win the
      spelling bees.
It is not an accident the fastest runners
      are black.

Those who attempt to suppress the realities
      of the world
Do a disservice of which I will not be a part.
So I am called a racist.