A Piece Of Advice From Yours Truly
By Payton Daye-Fraser

I fight and protest against the powers that be. 
In my everyday life - Both loud and quietly, 
For I can change society, In more ways than one. 
And I won’t stop, till my work here is done 
I come from a family that had to fight to be here 
And growing up I would hear 
Stories of justice and overcoming barriers 
Stories of kindness and loving thy neighbour 

 But loving thy neighbour, can be too much labor 
For a 5 year old girl with old racist neighbours 
Who call the police at any given chance 
So that they can be this suburban white saviour 

 With a pointy hat and a long white cape 
And as I walk by, They call me an ape 
With their eyes, Or their mouth, 
It’s all the same, Both have happened anyways 

 For a while, I took it to heart, 
I thought what they wanted me to think. 
That I’d never amount to anything, 
And amongst these boats I’d sink. 
But I’ve had time to rethink, 
I’ve learned how to swim, 
I love me, and in their eyes that’s a sin.

I walk my dog with my head held high 
I see the way they look at me 
It’s the same look as my white neighbours when I was 5 
They scowl, they snicker, then talk about me 
They know very well that I can clearly see 
But still, I walk calm and confidently 

 As I do 
I spy with my little eye 
People who have a problem with me  
A white guy stares, I breathe, I blink 
They hate to see me comfortable in my body 
And that I couldn’t care less about what they think 

 I march to the beat of my own deer-hide drum 
I carry with me the stories I was told.
They’ve shaped who I am and who I’ve become 
And I’ll carry them with me until I'm old 

 You see, I too am a flower 
That will continue to grow 
So take my advice, and know, 
What my family has passed down to me: 
Be kind and love others
Be confident, You can do it! 
Fight for your family, your sisters and brothers 
But most importantly, Take no shit