Ignorance is Bliss

Years ago

Mentioned briefly with trust

Stepping in made me feel uncomfortable

They said in return proudly

Do you not like being special?

They’ll never understand

The stares and glares received walking into a diner

The invisible expectations

The labels they give you as gifts

Receiving advice never asked for, to sound more

American

They’ll never comprehend

Getting racially profiled when walking in the store

People assume what you are and see you as less than

Subtle microaggressions

Over time it stops being subtle

Identifying as a minority for decades

They’ll never realize

What they said was a microaggression

To answer the question, I don’t mind being special

At times it becomes triggering

When special becomes a full-time job

Unpaid teacher

It becomes overtime when explanations are required

On call shifts when threats arise

This is the reality of being special