A Blue Collar Boy

No matter how hard you try you can never hide who you are, or where you come from

People know I'm not one of them
as soon as I walk into a room.
Their faces say he doesn't belong
they wonder why I'm here.
Is it the look on my face 
or the way that I walk
that puts them all on guard?
I'm sure if they knew who my father was
I would have never gotten this far.
I know my suit is not as new
and it's not a custom fit --
My shoes are from a department store
but they're always shined and neat.
I worked hard to get to where I am
harder than any of them.
But none of that matters
when you don't know the manners
and your fear gives you away.  
When I was a child 
they said spread your wings and soar. 
but my dreams are securely furled.
I'm a blue collar boy
and I'm trapped in a white collar world.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I love this message . . . I've been on both sides of this equation & it's a worthless distinction, really, but one which is followed by many, even if out of mindless habit. Your message includes the most pertinent distinctions, like "shoes from a department store" . . . so true-to-life & poignantly stated . . . I'm seeing & feeling the built-in bias, how we always reflect the manners of our birth . . . even sometimes those who have attained so-called "greatness" or "fame" will still reflect the more crude aspects of their upbringing, making them "different" from those born to wealth. Now I'm inspired to try a similar topic . . . except for me, it's the lure of the blue-collar boy . . . so much more organic than these polished fools.

[James]

I'm the first person in my family to ever finish high school, I have a Masters degree in History and work at a college and I still feel inadequate. I'm not accepted because I have the wrong pedigree and without it, we're only going to climb so far.

I wrote this after leaving a committee meeting and getting treated like a piece of, as one coworker described " A piece of trailer park trash" by an upper-level administrator.

Got to love enlightened people.

[barleygirl]

It's interesting to get the backstory on this . . . thanks for sharing that . . . I'm lucky to have spent much of my life in agriculture-related fields, where even the uppity-ups are still "country" in their presentation & expectations.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

Wow! You have my mind spinning with so much after reading and rereading this.
As to your note, I would encourage you to never feel you have to hide where you came from. Many of the "privileged people" are only where they are because someone back in their family tree worked hard and perhaps felt the way you do. Generations seem to forget the road made easier by their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on.
There is so much to be said for honesty and the hard won successes, no matter how they may be viewed by those who were fortunate (? is it) enough to waste time in fraternities while their parents paid their way and furnished them with so much monetarily so that they could buy their way out of youthful "mistakes" and not feel life's consequences.
Look at what we have in the highest halls of power in this world. There are a few that are down to earth and perhaps honest, but the most of the bunch is corrupt and full of themselves. Falsely thinking they are "somebody", when they are so encapsulated in a bubble of like minded shallow contemporaries.
Well, you have certainly got me off to what could well be a rant if I don't stop.
Suffice to say, you are enough and you are plenty. From reading your work I would venture to say you are a fine example of what we need more of in this world.
I'm thinking of something I heard somewhere :
"Define success in a world of corruption."
Hold your own and be proud of the character you demonstrate.

[James]

Wow, thank you for this. I think mostly it's trying to fit in and win respect. It's tough trying to live and work in a world where you feel uncomfortable most of the time. And I enjoyed your rant.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

Well, I did go on a bit! It just hits a nerve with me. You are a wonderful writer.

[James]

Wow, thank you. That's the best compliment I could get.