Who is he?

So I just got through reading Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance written by President Obama. I don't think I need to tell any of you how good it was and if you haven't read it, get it on your book list without delay.

What I will say about it, is I don't think anyone has articulated the experience trying to unify two cultures as clearly as he. It made me think back to my youth. My experiences growing up and feeling like I didn't really belong in either of my cultures... so with my mind travelling back to my teenage years, I wrote my first poem in almost three years... here goes:

Who is he?

Who is he?
The son of of an African immigrant, that's what he calls himself,
comprised of elements of entities he barely understands.
A name with meanings he can no longer pluck from the memories of his lost heritage,
and a language who's words and tones leave him frozen, unsure of what direction he is being pointed.
Constantly searching for an answer to a question eve n more foreign to him than his place in this western world.
"Who am I really?"

Who is he?
The son of an African immigrant, that's what they call him,
In their eyes a swirling stereotype to be misunderstood and feared.
They see his walk as lacking in true purpose, yet so full of arrogance,
He's one of us through documentation only - a paper thin association.
"Who does he think he is? Really!"

Who is he? He's the son of an African immigrant.
As unsure of himself and his world is unsure of him.
Trying to unite two histories, just for the chance at one destiny,
terrified his fraudulent duality is one well placed question away from discovery.
Who is he? He's the son of an African immigrant.
Who is he?... He is me