shared color of blood

They never forget to ask
about the nationality of our grandparents.
No importa si son negros, morenos o blancos.
Our blood and roots do not change our humanity.
Nuestra sangre pesa mas de lo que pensamos —
until they remember to ask
about the nationality of our grandparents,
as if that could justify or condemn our presence
based on the established standard for
American skin and first-world problems.