Black Lives Are Not For Play

People of Color who are athletes and entertainers –
That’s all you want them to be.
You prefer, no demand that they stay in those lanes.
Because beyond that, you don’t care to see.
But that’s not their reality.
When they are off the courts, fields and tracks,
There is a life to which they go back.
They have families and friends too.
They are human just like you.
For the game, it’s okay.
For that time you tolerate.
Otherwise – it’s their skin you want them to shed.
When it’s the uniform to come off instead.

You think they are there for your entertainment.
Beyond that, they should remain silent.
You only want them around,
When they are there to serve you.
That’s the same mentality justifying slavery.
History already showed – that was the wrong track.
Is that where you want to head back?

You need to separate the entertainment from the entertainer.
The game is not the player.
The former is there for your amusement.
The players are not for manipulation.
You would like for a real life Hunger Game.
But it’s people’s lives – they are not for play.

Players are not immune to the inequalities and social injustice.
Should they just deny all of its existence?
Seeing people like them being killed must have an effect.
Play on – is what you expect.
Keep all emotions in check!

And in truth, if the injustice for which they fight
was adequately addressed in the community,
The players would not have been in such a plight.
Feeling obligated to use the opportunity –
The field, court or track as the venue from which to fight back.

Humanity would benefit from US moving forward.
But advancing at the expense of others makes us coward.
We then become an insult to our own intelligence,
And a danger to our human(e) existence.
God made us with a mind, heart and soul.
As well as the ability to reason.
But we let our bias, self-interest and ego
Take over and do the leading.
If we lose our desire to be humane,
America will never be great again.