The second time somebody called me a Ni66er

1988, I just finished playing Oregon Trail

Leaving the Computer Lab, a kid yelled, ‘What the hell?’

It was Danny, a white kid in my class

I tried to exit, but he wouldn’t let me pass

‘You’re pretty smart for a Ni66er’! He spat with a smile

Confused, I replied, I don’t understand, what you mean, how?

Danny continued, ‘Think you better than me, ‘cause you won the Indiana State Science Fair, but you’re just a ‘n…’

‘I heard you the first time,’ I interrupted, a left with a disappointed sigh, ‘uh!’

I slowly walked down the hall to band

I felt so angry and nauseous, carrying a French horn in my hand

I regret never telling my teacher, parents, or brothers what Danny said 

To this day his words still live rent free in my head

Decades later, I still don’t know what else a 12 year old me should have done or said!

https://edwards-moore-family.net/testbrown/documents/Jason%20Science%20Fair%201988.pdf