Red Skin

I am not your name for me

Savage
Injun
Redskin
Prarie Nigger

I am a proud native of this country.

Not aboriginal, original.

I refuse to let your white skin,
Tell me that my red skin,
Red like the sunset,

Red for strength,
Red for bravery,
Red for loyalty,
Red for survival,

Is not beautiful, too.

I am not your mascot,
I am not your latest trend.

My sacred things,

My dreamcatchers,
My headdresses,
My beads,

Are not for you.

You cannot use my culture anymore,
You cannot say I am not beautiful anymore,
You can hate my red skin,
You can hate what I came from,

But we are strong,
We will stay strong.

Not aboriginal, original.