How Would You Judge Me?

How do you judge a man?

Would you judge him by the shoes he wears?

How do you judge a woman?

Would you judge her by the tattoos she bears?

How would you judge me?

By the passport that i carry

or the place of my birth?

Really think for a moment

How would you judge me?

By the degrees that i hold, or my money, and the case of my worth?

How would you judge me?

By the color of my skin and the curls in my hair?

How would you judge my children?

By the way that they walk

in the clothes that they wear?

How would you judge my friends?

By the way that they talk and the accents they all have?

How would you judge me?

By the title of my work or of the job that i have?

We're quick to think we're tolerant that we value everyone

but little do we know that everyone judges anyone

We think we are liberal, that our love extends to all

Little do we know our ignorance leads to our downfall

we need to begin with humility

that is not thinking less of yourself

no, it's thinking of yourself less

To reach out to others and expand yourself

We need to listen and stop talking

We need to stand up with our brothers and walk where they are walking

We need to extend love

not the emotion but in action

We need to stop judging and reach out to those that are different with compassion

We need to understand no matter the color

No matter the race

That we are all valuable and that we should respond with grace

Disagreements can happen but we need to find common ground first

and when we do

We understand that the other person has much profound worth

We need to make their problem ours and understand their pain

Not just shove it away and huff and puff in vain

So, I'll ask you again

and be honest this time

How would you judge me?

If you've never known my pain

How would you judge me?

Knowing that you might have nothing to gain

I hope we can all learn to judge a man

As MLK once said

"Not by his color, but his character instead."