hem

Racism’s Hem 

 

Some days, 

I think it’s possible 

the tearing away of it 

the pulling at its frayed hem 

its full 

unraveling 

the way it could 

(eventually) 

dismantle 

become unspooled 

thread 

some day. 

 

But 

 

Most days, 

I realize the improbability– 

the strengthening 

of its seam  

the inestimable tightening 

of its durable cross stitching 

the way it remains 

so firmly  

in place 

over time. 

 

 

Then 

 

From time to time 

I remember  

its ability to 

regenerate 

reinvent itself 

fashion itself anew 

give itself a new label 

alt right strand 

tea party twine 

proud boys (and girls) cord 

readied to weave 

reimagined patterns 

on  

antiquated 

confederate cotton 

 

But 

 

as time tries 

to unstitch its 

ubiquitous hem 

new string 

a new needle  

more exacting hands 

sharper eyes (with a repurposed vision) 

an adjusted 

customized pattern 

 

a new design 

emerges 

each time 

more decidedly 

will safeguard 

racism’s  

reinvention. 

 

Always 

 

I see 

the way it 

re-dresses 

hems itself back into 

place 

into eternal 

permanence. 

 

Copyright © 2021 by Uva Coles

 

Uva Coles is a professional keynote speaker and writer whose work has been featured in the Philadelphia Business Journal and The Philadephia Inquirer, among other publications. She is also a guest columnist for Al Día News and a recurring bilingual (English/Spanish) television guest commentator and analyst on inclusive issues for Telemundo and NBC. A native of the Republic of Panama, Uva is an orgullosa (proud) Afro-Latina who lives in Delaware with her husband and two sons.