Same Difference

Growing up I never knew I was different
Swimming in a sea of diversity
Everyone has the same difference
It wasn’t until I moved that it hit me
A unit of uniformity left me to be
Scrutinized and analyzed
For my hair and my skin
Traits I thought identified me
But it didn’t define me
Being different isn’t all that I would face
Hardship and poverty
Added to the scrutiny
Old shoes and worn out clothes
Lack of diversity
Was only one adversity
I had to do more
Be more
Make more of myself
For my family
For my daughter
For all Latinas
You see I was so close
One step away from another
Stereotype and statistic
They laid out for me in my youth
But the world is changing
It’s not enough anymore
You can’t just do it for you
You do it for everyone like you
Get your degree
Make a difference
Fight for what’s right
Fight for change
Solidarity in diversity
My brothers and sisters
Together we share the same difference