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Aye, no homo (Hug me Bruh)

by Heriberto Palacio III

Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
I need to be told shit will be okay.
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
My Daddy don’t want my ass.
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
No one thinks I care.
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
My moms told me I am just like my dad.
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
I keep hiding my pain.
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
I need someone to know that I am in pain.
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
I can’t keep up this pace.
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
Why can’t I be loved?
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
When will this end?
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
It makes me feel better
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
Can I just sit here for a little while longer?
Aye, no homo
Hug me bruh
Just, hug me bruh    

 

 

 

As I Am Nigga

a written piece by Heriberto “Eddie” Palacio III

 

I am a pretty nigga.

I like my skin care routine, grooming myself and bubble baths, cuz that shit is self-care. I like smelling like coconuts and mangos bruh. My skin glows and my scalp feels fresh as fuck. I like to feel pretty. I can like dat shit and still be a man.

 

I am a beautiful nigga.

My hair is long as fuck and my curls stay poppin' bruh. My haircare routine is important to me. I stand in the mirror for hours doing it up! I use fruity flavored chapsticks because I like the smell of it on my lips. I keep my nails trimmed and groomed. I like to feel beautiful. I can like dat shit and still be a man.

 

I am a happy nigga.

I enjoy life bruh. I am always cheesing at some shit. I like to make people smile cuz life is too hard to be actin’ hard too! I find joy in simple shit. I am a happy ass black boy, and no one can take that shit from me. Yeah, life out here is hard for me, but I like to feel happy. I can like dat shit and still be a man.

 

I am a dorky nigga.

I like to read shit and learn shit. I enjoy school and getting smarter. I read manga.  I watch anime and play video games. I get excited over superhero comics and card games. I cosplay as my favorite characters and rock that shit with pride. I enjoy learning new languages. I like being dorky. I can like dat shit and still be a man.

 

I am a proud nigga.

I am not afraid to be myself. I am breaking out of the roles assigned to me by society. I am proud of my people and all of their “flaws”. I will always be myself, pave my own path, and become something in my own right. But I will never abandon my blackness nor my people. Being myself does not water down my black magic, it enhances it. I’m am a nigga? I’m taking that word back bruh. I am proud to be a nigga. I can like all’a dat shit and still be a man.

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