Dark

I am 30 teaching
In East Austin at a
Community college
Campus next to the shut
Down projects where crime
And violence are a constant,
I am here because I am beginning
To blame minorities and women
For my failure to teach full time
At a university and I must rid
My mind of this subjective
Prejudice to regain the
Objectivity of history.
There is no better
Way to fight my
Prejudice than
To work late
Into the
Night
With those
Whom I am
Tempted to see
Only as stereotypes.
Small children fear the
Dark since it is unknown just
As adults fear and are prejudiced about what they do not know.
Education turns on a light,
It turns over the rock we
Sometimes hide under
When we are afraid
To face the truth
About the world
And ourselves.
Reading is
The best
Way
To
Get light
Onto our fears,
Guided reading is
Education which
Allows us to look
Methodically at
Our immediate
Surroundings
Objectively
Rather
Than
Subjectively
Watching FOX to
Reassure us of
Our current
List of pet
Prejudices.