by Sean Hill

And from the beginning it feels like ain’t no winning.  
The blank they fill in is about their convenience.  
They are they and the other is theirs. We ain’t them.  
In part, we ain’t them because they need to be them.  
The speaker’s busted on the boom box—sound only  
coming out one side, not in stereo. A stereotype is a  
stereotype is a one-sided way of being seen not three- 
dimensionally, so to speak. The speakers be so close  
you might not even notice one’s busted. There ain’t  
no good stereotype, just ones they think we shouldn’t  
mind like you people are natural athletes; you people  
are so in touch with nature; you people are hard  
workers; you people are artistic; you people are good  
at math; you people run fast—your muscles are bigger  
and better than ours. You people got rhythm, you  
people know how to party; you people are great  
lovers; you people have the most beautiful skin, and  
when you people blend it with ours the children turn  
out so adorable. You people are strong, especially  
your women. You people have style. You people are  
so wise; you people are downright magical. You people  
are just so exciting. You people are so fashionable.  
You people are so strong, especially your men. You  
people are so spiritual. You people have thick skin;  
you people don’t feel pain the way we do; you people  
are tough. You people are so funny—you have the best  
sense of humor. You people are great lovers, especially  
your men. You people are great lovers, especially your  
women. You people have flair. You people sure can sing.  
You people are so neat and tidy. You people are good  
with money—so frugal. You people are imaginative,  
inventive—so creative. You people never go out of fashion.  
You people know how to make a way out of no way.  
We really appreciate you people—we really really do…  

Poem copyright 2026 by Sean Hill. All rights reserved.

See more poems from Sean Hill on The Fight & The Fiddle: “The State House Aflame, 1833,” “How a Father Should Talk with His Son,” and “For Us.”

---

Read more in this issue: Interview | Critical Essay | Writing Prompt