concerning that matter of some racial bigotry in Oklahoma

I must name names:

          Yukon, Oklahoma

          Independence Middle School in 1992 if I’m to be incredibly blunt

The last situation I thought I wanted to be in that I was forced to be in?

Being the new kid in town, forced to get undressed in a boys locker room

          with other neo-pubescent boys, complete strangers

The last situation that I in fact did not want to be in that actually happened?

Being the new kid in town, forced to get undressed in a boys locker room

          with other neo-pubescent boys, complete strangers

          while they chanted the following

          Hail, Angels, Dressed in White

         Killing N——ers, Left and Right

Well

I don’t remember the rest for some reason

But there was more

I said nothing

And I tucked that incident away amidst the rest of the unpleasantness

          of the aforementioned circumstances (…middle school…Yukon, Oklahoma)

Now, I can’t help but think

Had I a device to record and capture that moment 22 years ago in a middle school locker room

Participants no more than 14 years old

And if I had to guess—

          Not their first recital

          Nor their original composition

          But an homage that was doing someone proud

          I wouldn’t say they pulled it out of the air

But I would say it was in the air

Now then

          The thing to do

          is not to say 

                    Well, I never…

          Oh it is tempting
But for some grace perhaps I hadn’t come from another Bible Belt town with a tad more

                     diversity

                    Not really embraced

                    But diversity nonetheless

          Wherein my best friends had been individuals of color

                    Which excuses me nothing from the fact that my ancestors

                              UNDENIABLY 

           Considered their ancestors to be property

                              of THEIRS mind you

Did I personally do anything?   i.e. RESPONSIBLE for that

No

          and that’s rarely going to be my conversation

But I’m vulnerable to breathing air like anyone

And also to saying nothing

          Which is exactly what I

                                        terrified?

                                        shamed?

                                        unsure

                                                  did that day

And that, G-d willing, will be my conversation from here on

And I fear (though I don't know)

          All that having it on video would have accomplished

Would be to reiterate to the world that I didn’t do anything else when I could have

http://www.route66news.com/2014/01/21/route-66-towns-former-sundown-towns-apologize/