Say Jesus were not your magic negro—
the polite Brown man you love to reference
when MLK and John Lewis won’t fit
your narrative. the Helper who appears
with homespun wisdom. the dusky Savior
of complex whiteness, holding infinite
patience, forgiveness in His soulful eyes.
what would you do without His sacred heart,
the selfless miracles which always place
His back and outstretched arms in front of yours?
the ask and you receive relationship,
the privilege you accept—expect—as owed?
what will you do when He vanishes just
as mysteriously as He appeared?
