Today is
Jackie Robinson Day
(April 15th)
In Major League Baseball.
As we celebrate
His historic breaking
Baseball’s colour barrier.
Despite this
We're still struggling
To move beyond
Our prejudices
And fears.
We should be
Seeking to enrich society
By embracing those
Shunned and marginalized
Due to religious political
Or racial discrimination.
Instead
We're building walls
And other barriers
Against those
Who dare challenge
Society's rigid status quo.
As we pat ourselves
On the back
For the hollow advances
Over the years.
Believing
We’ve made
Real progress.
Ignoring
One very important fact
Our prisons are overflowing
In disproportionate numbers
Of incarcerated inmates
(Both male and female)
To the rest of society
By these groups.
As we mark
The 71st anniversary
For Jackie’s inner strength
Of courage.
While
I wipe away
The tears
Of wasted years.
Therisa © 2018
Author's note: Sadly, we all know of stories, locally and internationally, which illustrates this point to others.
Sorry for the long delay between writing this poem and posting it, but I have struggling with other things in my life. Like finally finishing and mailing my ODSP case file review, late last week, as today is the deadline for it, without asking for another 3 month extension on it.
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