Ode to Oppression

It can be said that advancements have been made,

but we minorities are still being played

by this age old game their ancestors invented

that leave our lives and history forever augmented.

But the scary thing is, this game has become internal

the discrimination of those with darker skin being life-eternal.

This is not a thing of the past,

as the range of their game is still vast.

Yet as we try to speak about our plight

they try with all their might

to be the victim, played by the game,

as if they did not create it, and they are not to blame.

But really, they are, because for centuries they’ve colonized

and over the years since then, their standards have institutionalized.

We are constantly victims of their terrorism

(which is not called such because of “traces of autism.”)

The law is not in our favor, there is a constant divide.

But we will not stay down and beaten, we stand in solidarity and pride.

Maya Vannini (she/her/hers)

WHO IS SHE? Maya Vannini, 16, is new to The kNOw, but has been writing for upwards of five years. She’s usually being politically vocal on Twitter or binge watching Vice documentaries. She believes the best meme is the “henlo lizer” meme.

DID YOU KNOW? She makes facial expressions unknowingly when having a conversation in her head.

For more from Maya, you can follow her on Snapchat @MayaPannini