Undocumented (tribute to Assi and Forever 21 workers and organizers)

by Jason Jaewan Lee
Copyright "the people" Summer 2002

you operate with impunity
i work with my children in mind
sowing and stitching
for the un-AmeriKan Dream
as simple as it may seem
 
voiceless, unspoken, unbroken
thrown in a sweatshop
face down on the garment rack
stabbed in the back
 
i told mr. subcontractor slowly
i may not be brave
you can jail my back wages
but i’ll never be your slave