Stop looking over your neighbour’s wall.
Then running to tell all
What you discover
And seek to uncover
The mystery as to the source of your neighbour’s wealth
Bothering them until it affects their health.
“Why did you buy that,” you often say
Reminding black people that there is a price to pay
For having black as the colour of their skin
They are judged harshly when white people say, “your kin.”
Are dying of hunger in the township
As if you were the one who cracked the whip.
That hurt and oppressed people for so long
Now you’re judged with intent to do harm.
“How can you dress in designer suits and clothes
With Prada and Breitling and who else knows
“How dare you flaunt your hard work!”
“It’s obvious that you shirk,”
Your responsibility for the poor in this land
Even if it wasn’t by your hand.
So, a question to white folk
Even those that consider themselves woke
Why do black people have to pay for your sins?
And be unable to celebrate their wins.
In peace and harmony, you often cry out for
Yet, you live your life, without the score.
Having been settled to what was owing
Black people are now blamed with you knowing.
That they practice ubuntu in every way
Paying off deficits every day
From a system in which they were oppressed
But now, being judged by the way they dressed.
“Help your people they are in need.”
Are they not your people too indeed
Did you not say you’re South African by birth?
Then surely the poor is your responsibility and worth.
The sacrifices you have to make in your personal life
To soothe the anger and the strife.
To help and uplift them as we do
And why aren’t you condemning the Ruperts and the Oppenheimer too?
Or is it only black people that deserve your ire
While navigating their way through the quagmire.
Your bias is evident in the way you judge.
And point fingers and nudge
Everyone to look in the direction of the well dressed black man
But ignoring the white man as he stands.
In all his riches and refinement that was built
On the backs of those suited black men with no guilt
The cars they drive makes you stop and say
How dare that black person be that way
Don’t they know their brother is poor and dying?
Yet not once to stop the lying.
Why are you not compelled to help when they ask?
Is he not your brother even if his skin colour is dark?
Gucci seems to offend you only on a black mans back.
Could your bias be accustomed to black people showing their lack?
It is equality and equity that needs to shift.
Not every successful black person required to lift
Black people from the depths of despair
By your refusal to share
What never belonged and was stolen
So why the need to see black people broken?
In mind and in dress
When it wasn’t their mess.
A fancy suit should not offend you.
Fight against racism and inequality, which is long overdue.
