What They Don't Teach

A News Response Poem

They told me
I was lucky
to be born here --
as if soil
makes freedom grow.
But I’ve seen flags
used as bandages
and borders
drawn in blood.
I learned
citizenship
is not a paper
but a pulse
that beats louder
when questioned.
And freedom?
It’s the walk
my grandmothers took
to vote
in different times,
across different lines,
hungry to be heard,
wanting something more
for the future,
and still
moving forward.

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Author’s Note:

On May 15, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a significant case concerning President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders. While the constitutionality of birthright citizenship (a right established by the 14th Amendment) was a backdrop, the central issue before the Court was whether lower federal judges possess the authority to issue nationwide injunctions that block such executive orders. While I am not an immigrant or a temporary visa holder, the issue brought to mind what it means to be a citizen of our nation.

For a detailed overview, you can read the full article here: Supreme Court divided over nationwide injunctions in birthright citizenship case.

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