I remember AAPI month last year.

I was happy but then mad.

I was mad because the reason we have a pride month in the first place was because people didn’t like us

Just for how we looked

I was mad,

Because people were calling it

‘Pre-pride month’

As if it’s not already a pride month.

It just doesn’t apply to you,

So you don’t need to pay attention. 

It’s not as if I pay attention to every social issue either

So we’re both the bad guys.

I was mad,

Because I had to spend so much time and energy

Just to educate my white friends 

On why they shouldn’t scream

‘Hate Crime minorities’ 

In public

As a joke.

I was mad,

Because a boy thought it was okay

To call my friend 

A

  Chink. 

And now I’m still mad

Because now he has a girlfriend who loves him.

I was mad because we even had a slur in the first place.

I was so mad

That one day after my little brother’s baseball game

I took a knife to my skin

And stayed in my room for hours.

I hated how people were so ignorant

And dumb.

I’m still mad, 

But I don’t look at the knife anymore

I look at my laptop

And the keys

And write.