I'm not white, I'm human

I lack the categorizing stereotypes you need
to put me in my place
to isolate me from your social concerns
to drown out my contributions from the melting pot
of democracy

but you quickly forget:
I’m not white, I’m human.

My skin pales in comparison, true enough
but not in the snow scapes I wander throughout
not in the blizzard of ivory that I tinkle
and the assumption of language surprises even me
as I speak the tongue of the local, not the foreigner

but you quickly forget:
I’m not white, I’m human.

as if ma peau, o mi piel could classify me
in the same category as the ignorant fools
who suffer blindness on a daily basis
no susceptibility to the light of each spirit
with whom they interact

but you quickly forget:
I’m not white, I’m human.