Two Shades of Yellow

Written by Sha Jameson for “Feminist Disability Studies”

I live with two shades of yellow
Shade One came first
Shade One was younger
Shade One was more gullible
Shade One was about 3 feet
Shade One stood out
Shade One was surrounded by other shades of yellow
Shade One gets mistaken for being 4 years old as an 8-year-old
Shade One gets told she has a sickness

Shade One struggles to reach things in stores
Shade One cannot go on rides when her peers can
Shade One cannot run as fast as her friends
Shade One comes in last in relays

Shade One was not going to accomplish much
No fruitful life ahead
Shade One would have been legally discriminated
Shade One was starred at nonstop;
By the old and the young
Shade One was talked about and asked about loudly
Shade One accepted her life

Then Shade Two came. On a plane across the Pacific

Shade Two was taller
Shade Two is about 3’10”
Shade Two stands out again
surrounded by shades of white this time
Shade Two became brighter
It covers shade one but it does not erase it
It’s more mature

Shade Two still struggles to reach things in stores
But she is not ashamed of it
Shade Two still cannot go on rides when her peers can
But her peers band with her and no one goes
Shade two still cannot run as fast as her friends
But they slow down for her
Shade Two still comes in last in relays
But gets exempt from doing it

Shade Two gets looks from people
Mostly young; people are curious
Shade Two is whispered about
Shade Two gets called midget
Shade Two moves on
Shade Two is more protected by the law
Shade Two has greater possibilities