June Jordan: A Short Note to My Very Critical and Well-Beloved Friends and Comrades

 First they said I was too light

Then they said I was too dark

Then they said I was too different 

Then they said I was too much the same 

Then they said I was too young

Then they said I was too old

Then they said I was too interracial

Then they said I was too much a nationalist

Then they said I was too silly

Then they said I was too angry

Then they said I was too idealistic

Then they said I was too confusing altogether:

Make up your mind! They said. Are you militant

or sweet? Are you vegetarian or meat? Are you straight

or are you gay?

And I said, Hey! It's not about my mind.