Red, White, Blue, and Green

If you ask a child what colors they see on the flag,

They would say red, white, and blue.

Red and white strips 

White stars against a blue background 

To many our flag stands for 

freedom, opportunity, liberty, and patriotism. 

I do not stand. I won’t even kneel.

When I hear the pledge or our national anthem, 

I just sit and think back to what I read on a Facebook post about colors.

Each color has a special meaning. 

You know, like we associate 

Purple with royalty. 

Black with death.

Red, the color of strength and determination. 

Fire and blood.

My ancestors’ blood 

On their backs, they built this nation.

From there, we lost our culture, language, identity, and peace.

Bore descendants that are still scrambling for rights and left with a constant reminder of how white folks really feel about us.

Gunned down, clutched purses, ignored yet pitied when it looks good

The blood of my people colors your precious flag.

White: the color of light, goodness, and purity.

What’s pure about you, lady liberty?

Is it the favor you show to billionaires while we, the people, wait for a measly $1200 check?

People dying from lack of proper healthcare?

I see a white flag in your hand, America.

What goodness is left?

You’ve already compromised your dignity.

Selling information overseas to manipulate a system that made no sense at all.

This electoral college has put us in debt to ignorance and now we are paying for it. 

Blue

Depth and trust it represents. 

Wisdom

Truth

You based this country on a lie. 

All men are created equal.

Coined by a man who owned slaves.

Did he see Sally as equal? 

Manipulation has been ingrained in this nation since its conception. 

Paint a pretty picture of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

Well, I’m ugly crying in the mirror

Begging to see a change in my country.

They say these colors don’t run 

But they’ve been running from the truth for a long time.

When you ask me what colors I see on the flag,

I’ll tell you red, white, blue, and green.

Green covers it all.

It’s green that’s always been here.

Ones, fives, ten, twenties.

It’s green that shares the faces of our leaders.

It’s green that motivates our actions.

It’s green that decides between the equal and unequal.

What’s essential about fake wrestling 

But not rent deferment? 

What’s essential about hydroxychloroquine

But not universal healthcare?

Why must I choose between 

My health or my job?

My health or my student loans?

My money or me?

Green covers all the other colors. 

Green is the only one that matters.

So I don’t see what you see.

I see Red, White, Blue, and Green.