Is jy n man of n muis?

I walk down the street

I see white white white black white white

Heading down-town white fades to black

Black black black is what I see

Glancing into the window of a salon I am met by a face

White as snow

She must surely be out of place

I trace the face back to the reflection of a hand which becomes my arm which becomes my body... by being

How is it that I find myself in this part of town?

Where the beat of life’s realistic tunes fill the air

Hunger and corruption

Yes

But more

You see life is not always greener on my side.

I want to walk wherever I please

But the colour of my skin refuses to release me

Damn it, I said release me

Please free me!

Now don’t get me wrong

I adore my fair complexion

And the heritage

Even though it lacks perfection

But why should it hold me back...

Is it because I’m not black?

I know racism like few people do

Hard to believe since I’m not disadvantaged

But that’s just the thing

I am.

I am because I need to watch where I go

Cause I don’t blend in

I don’t blend in to the surroundings that attract me

That calls me

“Come see! Come see! Come see what we have on the ‘dark’ side!”

I know the situation is more complex than contrasting complexions

But I want to walk where I want to walk

I want to be who I want to be

Black black black black

I am white

Where it’s black

Sometimes I feel me being white is a curse.

O! Did I just say that?

Forgive me

Society better eat my dust

As I run the different race

Ek vra myself:

Is ek n man of n muis?

I look at your face and then at our fingerers...interlaced

Black white black white

Do you want to do this with me? 

Do you want to be the change with me?

Do you want to throw it in this world’s face?

As we run this different race I ask you

 “Is jy n man of n muis?”