At The Table

At the Table 

I am human.

No doubt about it. 

I eat, sleep, work.

I laugh, cry, feel.

I am gifted, talented, more than enough. 

So...Why should I have to beg you to have a seat at the table?

What does it take to get noticed for roles that are above typical stereotyped roles?

It's like I'm noticed but I'm not

Like I'm being copied and not given credit for the work

I cannot fathom accepting an invitation to something that was not created for me

Just to appease you, or to meet some quota or agenda 

To think that I cannot shine amongst the stars because someone says I'm not bright enough 

Or that my twinkle reaches farther than yours 

To think that my limbs gave birth to the nations 

And that my branches give shade in the heat

I've shown you that I am greatness 

That I am versatile and warm and awesome and love and remarkable 

I am grace under fire

The diamond in the rough

The agitating sand that the oyster pearl makes

But I am denied honor at your table simply because I am not enough for you 

So I've learned to embrace my own

Empower my own

Value and cherish my own

Create opportunities to grow

And make room at the table for those just like me

For we are fierce, proudly so, and we are one

At our table 

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.