Out of Place

Out of Place

By Natalie Schrader

In this poem, I am trying to show my experience as an inter-racial adoptee. As a woman of color who was adopted by a white, privileged family, I experience the world in a very unique way. Navigating social settings can be hard for someone like me; the identities I hold close have become an intersectional landscape that is hard to navigate from time to time. Through this piece of poetry, I hope to reach out to other inter-racial adoptees navigating their own journey in life, finding purpose and meaning. 

In the intricate tapestry of life, the thread I possess is unique,

A person of color in a white family’s grand design,

Adoptions embrace, a chill settles in,

I’m becoming cold.

Complex layers of privilege,

A belonging unfound,

Privilege drapes over my body, invisible

but the rewards are fruitful.

A space for me in this world is among faces I will never understand...

How could I?

In this tapestry, my colorful thread is embedded in fluffy eggshell yarn.

Underneath, I navigate public spaces while confronting the complexity of my existence.

A woman of color with privilege sewn in,

I have become an advocate, my voice becoming more defined.

I get to bridge a divide, to cultivate empathy’s grace.

For a world where ALL may find their rightful place.