The Secrets Of Mr. Jackson

Political and Socially Conscious Free Verse Poetry

Black History Challenge

Poem #9

The Secrets Of Mr. Jackson

 

Sambo Rogers was his biological

Father who never bothered with him

A secret that no one knew about

Something he kept to himself

As his White step dad gave him

Everything he had and more

He chose to ignore the color

Of his stepson’s skin and

Chose to focus more on

The content of his character

Despite what was happening

In the world

See,

Mr. Jackson had a good life

Because his stepdad

Was White

However, in hindsight

His mom kept her

Maiden name in tact

Because she wanted her

Son to know that he was Black

And the relationship she

Had with his White stepdad

Wasn’t going to change

That fact

She knew that her marriage

Was both unique and forbidden

Things were hidden but her

Husband understood where

She stood

And came to understand

The difficulties of raising

A soon to be Black Man

In a multi-raced

Environment

Where the requirements

To self-identify were

Important

Nevertheless,

He still

Offered his support

Although he was caught

Between a rock and

A hard place

He never let race be

A factor

He remained colorblind

And never let issues define

How he should help raise

His stepson

He rather give him

Life lessons on

Race relations

Teaching him to count

His blessings

Even though

Sambo Rogers was his biological

Father who never bothered with him

His White step dad gave him

Everything he had and more

He chose to ignore the color

Of his stepson’s skin and

Chose to focus more on

The content of his character

Despite what was happening

In the world

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