We are all the same.

We are all the same.

By: Chinenye Kalu

We are all the same

We are equal

Your colour doesn’t matter 

Your story doesn’t matter

Your gender doesn’t matter

We live in the 21st century

So why do you keep obsessing about the past? 

Why do you keep playing the victim?

I reach my hand out

I try to get help

Like everyone else does

I get turned away

After all, we are all the same

So why do you think you deserve special treatment

You’re not special..

 They say..

You’re not a victim

We are all the same

So I hide away

Lock my door

Let the rain downpour

Knowing that if I speak out..

I’d get turned away

We are all the same..

You know what.. You’re right

We should all be the same..

So let me mold myself to make ensure I fit in with everyone else

I’ll make my jump voice jump the octave

Make my hair look like everyone’s else’s

Avoid speaking about my..

My so-called “lived experiences”??

What is even is a lived experience

No one has a unique or “lived” experience

Considering the fact that we are all the same

We all have the same experiences… 

We all bleed the same colour

History is history

What does any of that have to do with today?

We are all the same

I’m so sick of this neoliberalist fantasy

I’m tired of pretending to not live in reality

No 

We are not all the same

How can we all be the same…

When it’s only certain groups of people..

That are out there getting killed for just choosing to exist

Certain people that have had their lands taken from them..

For simply daring to exist in a world..

That would rather live in ignorance

A world where women like me get called sassy and dramatic

For daring to defend ourselves from traumatic incidents

How many tears have to be shed?

How many lives have to be lost?

How many women have to go missing?

How many cultures have to be erased?

Before we stop living in denial?

And realize that..

We are not all the same 

This poem is written by C.K.