The Color of a Lie

by Kim Johnson

But this country only knows how to rule in terror and by blood. The physical and the metaphysical. The hate that has now fueled this country against us is as visible as skin color and as invisible as the soul.”

“What I did is simply remove the glass. Remove the man-made barrier. The construct of race. So, son, I’m not saying you have to hate who you are. I just want you to have a chance to see what it’s like when that glass isn’t controlling you.

It’s too easy. On the outside, that is. But the better I am on the outside, on the inside…I’m ripped to shreds. Every piece of me eating itself. Waiting on defense to not let my guard down. Even innocent things are hard, like going places.

“No, I mean it. I don’t want to live like I’m in some small box. I want to fight to have the whole world, even if I can’t have it all. I want to know I tried.”