to the stranger across the world from me

I hope you’re well 

I hope you’re content 

I hope that you’re living life in the most extraordinary way 

Free of fear and regret 

I hope we cross paths someday 

Unknowingly and in the most innocent way possible 

o r e o

World: "DAAAANM, woman! You may be black but you’re the whitest person I’ve ever met."

Me: "And what’s it to you?"

World: "Well, I’m not trying...to be, well, you know, ignorant..."

Me: "Yet, you’re still gonna try it."

World: "Uh... I hope you don't, well, you know, take offence to this but it’s just that... it's just that I’ve never met a black person who can annunciate all her syllables. Whose pants don’t sag and her shirts all fit? A black person who uh,

Me: "They begin softly, quietly as if the tone of their voice won't sting me. As if the words that they spit at me won’t puncture wounds in me but I...I refrain my arm from reaching out and letting it follow through with the backhand that it so desperately craves because I know my mama raised me right. 

World: "A black person who has managed to integrate so well with the white race. A black person who speaks like me. Dresses like me. And has more white friends than of her own race. I mean that's not being black at all, you're an oreo."

Me: "Well, shit! I must be winning in life then, right? RIGHT?"