Will the Real Black People Please Stand

Will the real black people please stand:
Whose forefathers worked this land together,
Whose heritage is undated,
Whose pride remains uplifted
Undaunted by the white man’s statistics,
Pushed forward by initiative,
Unstilled by useless chatter.
 
Is this us:
Whose cooperation we dare not trust,
Irresponsible to past assignments,
Content to beat around the bush?
Stand up, black people…
Dressed in polka-dot shirts and striped ties,
Flowered, and possessed by them.
Is this really us?
 
Will the real black people please stand:
Those fearless of the unconventional,
Moved towards their own blackness,
Prone to influence and set trends,
Schooled in their times and folkways,
Dedicated to worthwhile endeavors,
Attentive to meaningful expression.
 
Is this us:
Uncommited to work, driven to pleasure,
Preoccupied with semantics,
Hung up on ego projection,
Fooled by long talkers who say nothing,
Harassed by uncontrolled belligerence,
Cynical to the point of madness.
Is this really us?
 
Will the real black people please ACT.