Don't Be Me

We taught you wrong.

We allowed you to think it was yours. A justified entitlement.

It's not though; it's ours, and now we are no longer ourselves. We gave you permission to come into our homes, take what makes us unique, and wear it on display. We invited you in, and now when we ask you to leave, you get mad because we want to retain what makes us different. We want to remain and be celebrated for being ourselves, and you want to take it with you. I mean, you've been wearing it for so long - why can't you keep wearing it?

Here's why: when you're invited inside, the culture, the "other", of the inside has significance.
Outside the house, it loses its beauty.

But... can we take it back? Is it wrong to ask for it back? Is it wrong to snatch it off?

Whose fault is it?

I walk outside, and, in some ways, I lose what makes me "me". I get swept into a world that looks nothing like me, but I hear my voice singing around the corner. I see my style walking by me. I watch my rich skin tone make its way down the street, poorly replicated and sadly faded.

I want to be me, despite for many years of wanting to be you.
I don't anymore - I don't want to be you.
And even more, I don't want you to be me either.

Celebrate my "different"!
Allow my "other" to challenge, strengthen, and encourage you!
Let my "me" be regaled with cheers because my "me" makes you "you".
I'm not looking to separate; I am unique.
I'm not looking to discriminate; I am the only one of my kind.
I'm not looking to divide; I am fully me.
Be fully you.

"But this is fully me!"
No, this is you being me.
Don't get mad.
I get it.
I understand.
But give me back my "other".
I didn't invite you in to become me... no SWF here.
I invited you in to celebrate your "different",
To let you see my "different",
And to let you be "you", not "me", in relationship with dignity and value.

Please stop... don't be me.