Prejudice in the 21st Century

You look on appalled and concerned

Just as I look at you.

Maybe he’s out for walk,

Bird watching,

Enjoying the sun or the weather.

Oh no, that can not be,

We haven’t seen him before!

Where did he come from?

Where is he going?

He must be up to no good.

Casing the joint,

Looking to rob us,

Rape our women,

Set fire to our homes,

Surely he must be a criminal,

He does not belong here!

But why incredulous?

He doesn’t look like us,

His type doesn’t live in this neighborhood.

He’s the wrong color,

Certainly he must be muslim

Or gay,

Or dealing drugs to our kids

And hates this country.

This is the twenty-first century,

Haven’t we moved beyond our prejudice?

Shamefully…

No!

Hateful glances say no,

Joblessness says no,

Homelessness says no,

Hearts and minds say no,

Ignorance still exists,

The year,

The decade,

The century matters not.

In correctness some bite their tongues,

But their medieval minds dictate.

Thoughts expressed through actions,

Conversations held in the shadows,

The like-minded nodding in approval.

So little have we progressed,

Claims of enlightenment ring hollow.

Baseless assumptions poisoning us,

Fear used as justification,

Repetition brainwashing the ignorant.

When will it end,

This perpetuation of hate,

Cloaked as patriotism, religion,

Our constitutional right?

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Comments

14 responses to “Prejudice in the 21st Century”

  1. Charles Yallowitz Avatar

    Don’t know why but the ‘No!’ in the middle really ramps up the speed that I read the rest of the poem.

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      I think the “No!” may have just change the tone of the rest of the poem making it move faster…maybe, but in either case, thank you for taking the time to read it.

      1. Charles Yallowitz Avatar

        Always a pleasure to read them. Gets me thinking.

  2. RoSy Avatar

    My brain hurts just thinking about it. I just don’t get – I just don’t get it.

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      Me either RoSy, I never got it and still don’t.

  3. WB Avatar

    Excellent way to express a truth. Good work.

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      Thank you very much.

  4. WB Avatar

    Great piece.

  5. sheridegrom - From the literary and legislative trenches. Avatar

    Unfortunately for our country, every line is correct.

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      You are right, it is incredibly unfortunate that this still exists in our country, or anywhere for that matter. You would think we would have moved so far beyond this by now, but still it continues to rear it’s ugly head.

  6. Lucid Gypsy Avatar

    Well said Dom, change is long overdue.

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      It most certainly is long overdue, but when will it happen is the question.

  7. Eric Alagan Avatar

    Lessons aplenty – mankind plays truant

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      Sadly so my friend, man still has a great deal to learn.

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