On Tokenism

"Let me tell you about my black friend,"

You said as you pulled out the photo

Taken at a party before the lockdown,

When bros could put their arms

Over each other's shoulders

Hold up their drinks

And pose for social media.

The photo shows you leaning on him

Like maybe you'd had too much to drink.

The photo doesn't show

That you had just met him that night,

And haven't spoken since

That time when you told him

What you really thought about black people,

About how you knew

He was one of the best kind.

It was dark and loud then

And he wasn't exactly sure what

You were talking about,

So you assumed he agreed

When he smiled and nodded

And offered you another drink,

Because he thought

You might feel less awkward

If you had something else besides talking

To do with your mouth.

You lean on him in the photo

Like you lean on him

Whenever you need to demonstrate

How woke you are,

And that you know what

The better black people think.

You pull out the photo

And lay it on the table,

Like in a game

When you strategically play

The lowest and most discardable

Trump card in your hand.