This Must Be a Cakewalk for You
Did you know
we mimicked you in our quarters
even under your stronghold?
And you took our joke,
gentrified it,
and forced us to display it.
This order of operations must be a cakewalk for you.
–
Not only has the act of gentrifying and selectively admiring certain parts of our culture while degrading, dehumanizing, and condemning others been a longstanding occurrence, but so has our community’s ability to find joy and resilience through tragedy and pain. This poem highlights one powerful example of resistance: the way we mocked the dances of our enslavers within the quarters. Ironically, these dances were adored by white audiences even though they were parodies of their own movements. Despite their admiration, they continued to despise us, forcing us to perform as if we were animals or clowns. I hope this poem leaves you with a deeper understanding of cultural appropriation, exploitation, and our community’s enduring ability to adapt and reclaim.
