Skip to main content

Black vs White

This is a mail I got from a relative. Apparently, this poem was nominated by UN as the best poem of 2008:
When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow

When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray

And you calling me colored?

Comments

Tushar Mangl said…
Wow
amazing!!!
I will not call it the best,
but ya very creative and innovative thoughts
Richa said…
the author need an applaud!!
muthu said…
the idea is simple and hard hitting.... who is the author of this piece??
Netika Lumb said…
@ AM,

In drawing attention to such a sensitive issue, I guess this is the best I've read.

@ Richa,
You bet he/she does..

@ Muthu,

Unfortunately I don't know.. But I shall soon find out.
Femin Susan said…
Wow, you have a great poetic heart! Keep up the great posts….. Good job!
BrownPhantom said…
This was new :).
Good find.
Si_Lee said…
i have read this one more than 2 years back .. i think it was written by an african kid 8 or 9 years old ... in some camp organised by UN
Netika Lumb said…
@ Sidharth,

An 8 year old kid??? You sure, right? I mean, it's strnage you know. Considering the depth of the poem and all that..
Kartz said…
Yeah, ve read this before. Riveting. Yet poignant. :(

Peace.
Si_Lee said…
yep .. it won an award ... notice hw simple the lines are and nt really correct
DJ Naik said…
smriti if u would have used grammer tht would be great
Netika Lumb said…
@ DJ Naik,

Who are you referring to?
very creative yar,me loved t:)

Also read

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...

Sex without intimacy: A Spill the Tea story about modern loneliness

Tara meets someone through a matrimony broker. They quickly decide marriage isn’t on the table, but spend a night together anyway. What follows isn’t regret or drama, but an unsettling emptiness. Over tea and samosas, she tries to understand why physical closeness left her feeling more alone than before. Spill the Tea: When Closeness leaves You Feeling Further away The tea was too sweet. Tara noticed it immediately but didn’t say anything. She sat on the verandah chair, one foot tucked under the other, the plastic creaking every time she shifted. She wore a black cotton top with sleeves pushed to her elbows and denim shorts that left her knees bare to the evening air. She didn’t look uncomfortable. Just slightly unfinished, as if she’d left in a hurry. Between us, a steel plate held two samosas, already cooling. The chutney had begun to darken at the edges. She broke a corner of the samosa. The crust flaked onto her plate. She dipped it into the chutney, carefully. “You know,” she said...

Does India need communal parties?

I think, it was Tan's post on this blog itself, Republic Day Event, where this question was raised. My answer. YES. we need communal parties even in Independent, Secular India. Now let me take you, back to events before 1947. When India was a colony of the British Empire. The congress party, in its attempt to gain momentum for the independence movement, heavily used Hinduism, an example of which is the famous Ganesh Utsav held in Mumbai every year. Who complains? No one. But at that time, due to various policies of the congress, Muslims started feeling alienated. Jinnah, in these times, got stubborn over the need of Pakistan and he did find a lot of supporters. Congress, up till late 1940's never got bothered by it. And why should we? Who complains? No one. But there were repercussions. The way people were butchered and slaughtered during that brief time when India got partitioned, was even worse than a civil war scenario. All in the name of religion. And there indeed was cr...