In a recent post, eightbitsamurai wrote about (among other things) building an identity besides the one others project on you. Ultimately he said, "I’d like to be whatever I damn well please, and let my actions speak for my personality. Not my skin color."
Being "whatever I damn well please," though, is not a slamdunk, regardless of race, especially when skin, race, gender, orientation might put us in danger. When in danger of being bashed or assaulted, we might "be" different on the outside. How do we go about feeling, finally, comfortable in our own skin? It sounded to me like an opportunity for free association word play, but these questions can take you anywhere you go. I'll post later...
I'd like to be whoever I damn well please
I want to walk with ease
and feel entitled
to breathe the air
to breathe the air
to breathe.