I was born poor

1990 was the year

I was born black and gay

But I'm here

 

I was slow at developing

Yet fast in the intellectual field

Learning the matters of character

Took longer than climbing a hill

 

I remember winter nights of my door opened

So the heat could get into my room

For many United States young people it's a hardship

That sounds like 3rd World gloom

 

I dealt with the pain

Of being gay

In a hostile place

Seeing stats

Of blacks

Specifically African

American men

Assaulted

Denigrated

Misrepresented

Hated yet imitated

Underrated

And yet, I'm here

 

Because of mere suspicion

Of being gay

I must suffer

What comes my way

 

Assault

Denigration

Imitation for exploitation

Called faggot and queer

Because of someone else's fear

 

And yet, I'm here

 

I made mistakes

Took too many easy routes

Sowed some horrible seeds

And am now, reaping the fruits

 

And yet, I'm here\

 

I learned the truth

After 25 years I finally learned the truth

 

Self-value does not come from our brains

It does not come from our A's

It's not from our money

And it damn sure isn't in the car honey

 

It's because we exist

We're  one of a kind

And now I want to put a twist

On Ms. Celie's line:

 

I'm poor; I'm black; I'm gay; I might even be eccentric

But I'm here

Goddammit I'm here