Page 59 - Poems by Alyson Malach - Childhood to Adulthood

The Race Card

I hate the statement, ‘playing the race card.’

It lacks understanding, compassion, empathy and is hard.

It minimises what I am feeling and how I have been made to feel
Trust me, when I raise the issue of race, it is completely real

I don’t play a card when I complain of inequality and disrespect

I don’t play a card when I am treated as a lesser being and a reject

I complain about my treatment, I complain of racial abuse

I don’t play the race card; for me it has no use

When staff complain of being treated less favourably than you

Accept that there may be discrimina�on taking place, which real

leaders would pursue

You can’t be impar�al on this if you suggest a card is being played

To me, and others like me, your decision has already been made

Listen to what I have to say; inves�gate, probe and ques�on

Until you have the facts you won’t know if there’s been a transgression

Be clear about the issue, be clear about my claim
Don’t refer to my complaint as a ‘race card;’ it makes me feel ashamed

Ashamed to work in your organisa�on, ashamed that you treat me so

It affects my mental health and well-being, and makes me want to go

It makes me want to leave this employment, leave this place today

I cannot con�nue in an environment where I don’t have an equal say

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