Did You Know I Was Black?

Did you know I was black
Before I said it?
Before I called George W. Bush
A racist and meant it?
Did you know I was black
Before they put it on my birth
Certificate?
Before I was old enough
To decide on who or what I wanted to be represented
Did you know I was black
Through my style of writing?
Before you heard me speak with
So much conviction
With a force of lightning?
Did you know I was black
Before I voted for Obama
During the 2008 election?
Before they labeled me
And put me in the African
American Literature section?
Did you know I was black
Before you seen me
Speaking of unfair class system's
Oppression and poverty?
Before you heard me complaining
Of how much I get paid hourly?
Did you know I was black
When you heard me speak?
Before you realized how eloquently and articulate I was
Do you see what this black English vernacular
Does?
Did you know I was black
When you found out
I like watermelon and fried chicken?
Before you thought it was funny
To stereotype us as Aunt Jemima's,
Uncle Tom's
And what the hell is wrong with fried chicken?
Did you know I was black
From the black Jesus hanging up
On my wall
Because the bible says he was fair skinned
With the hair of wool...
Did you know I was black
Before you turned around to glare
At me and my friends due to our loud chatter?
Tell me now
Does all of this even fucking matter