The following poem was originally written by Beau Sia and posted to Facebook on July 6. Last week, given the state of things, Beau thought it would be appropriate to re-post it. But not long after posting it, Facebook took it down because the poem offended someone's sensibilities. Somebody apparently reported it, though nobody bothered to inform Beau why or how the piece was so unfit for Facebook. It was just reported and yanked.
So Beau posted it again. Within a day, not only was the poem flagged for removal again, but Beau was blocked from Facebook for a period of 24 hours, along with the warning that he could be blocked permanently if continued to violate "community standards." So Beau posted it again. But this time, he had the support of a community of Facebook friends who also started sharing the poem widely.
Because censorship sucks, and dammit, we need some poetry right now. And so, I share it with you.
SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE WHITE
you're not responsible for the other white people.
i see you sharing
black lives matter! dope post!
i see you marching
on instagram! dope post!
i see you donating
to THE cause. dope post!
your cousin in mountain view,
your best friend from college,
your aunt on your dad's side.
NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!
what his fascination with asian bodies got to do with you???
what her view on black men in the club got to do with you???
what auntie say about towelheads got to do with you???
you got bills, career instability, failed romance, a painful relationship with your father, global fear, comparison judgment, and the new season of favorite tv show on your plate,
what more can be asked of you?
you already have a puerto rican friend,
you already teach kids who's future assignment is prison,
you already passed 2010's ally exam.
i get it. there's just not enough time for anything more.
besides,
it's not your responsibility.
and anyway, we know how hard you try.
we're all trying so hard, i know.
we are all frauds & failures & fucking wack
in the eyes of those who condemn us
to the color of our skin.
we let ourselves be agents of hate,
as if the power of our silence at thanksgiving,
in the boardroom,
amongst shared ethnic background,
will evolve from within
what silence has yet to evolve
in anything.
II.
i thought i could click like my way to evolution.
i thought revolution was proven on the internet.
i thought my face excused me from others' struggle.
i thought example would magically transform all i touched.
i thought writing the poem was the most i needed to do.
i thought all the world's problems separated by borders.
i thought responsibility was only what i did for myself.
you are not responsible for
the other asian people.
the aunt who still clutches her purse to acknowledge black.
the best friend from college whose best friends are now all white.
the cousin fucking his hate into the poorest nations on earth.
you are not responsible for
the other asian people.
you can talk your way out of any wrongdoing.
you can make believers out of anyone.
you can present like corporate long game.
you are only responsible
for who you are.
III.
you're not a coward.
you been living
in a reward system
that erases
us all.
when we gonna challenge the roles we been assigned?
when we gonna challenge the comfort of our peers?
when we gonna challenge the traditions of our past?
when we gonna challenge the way our daily ignores color?
when we gonna challenge the narratives of war?
when we gonna challenge the truth of ongoing slavery?
when we gonna challenge the fear of facing our own hate?
when we gonna challenge the people against humanity?
when we gonna challenge the 8 men who rule over everyone?
when we gonna challenge the how that keeps failing truth?
when we gonna challenge the world made by our choices?
don't worry,
making buzzfeed rich
is probably enough.
don't worry,
becoming my friend
is probably enough.
don't worry,
sharing this
is probably enough.
i mean,
what else can you do?
you're not responsible
for the other white people.
you're only responsible
for who you are.
and who knows
where you at
in understanding
that truth.
and who knows
whether this is something
you listen to
or become
defensive about.
and who knows
their responsibility
waking
into the reality
we've lived
the shared lie
that
we only have
as much power as
the masters give us.
you're not responsible
for the other white people.
keep saying it
until all the mirrors die.
until there’s nothing left
of us.
- Beau Sia
