Punching the Air

by Ibi Zoboi

because where I come from jail or death were the two options she handed to us because where he comes from the American Dream was the one option she handed to them

All because we were in the wrong place we were in the wrong skins we were in the wrong time we were in the wrong bodies we were in the wrong country we were in the wrong were in the wrong in the wrong the wrong wrong

All because they were in the right place they were in the right skins they were in the right time they were in the right bodies they were in the right country they were in the right were in the right in the right the right right

We were a mob a gang ghetto a pack of wolves animals thugs hoodlums men They were kids having fun home loved supported protected full of potential boys

I’m sure you all know the rule of law— Innocent until proven guilty But with us, it’s guilty until proven innocent