To Commemorate Black History Month
Originally published in The Weldon Times’ Winter 2024 issue.
it seems that nowadays
a darker shade
means less praise
even though your skin
looks like it's been kissed
by sun rays
but the media likes to say
that you’re beautiful
if you don’t gain weight
if your smile stays the same
if you’re capable of carrying yourself one way
after hearing all these things
that tell you that your beauty is wrong
that you're weak not strong
that on the front page of a magazine
or being a runway queen
isn’t where you belong
you still got features that make you, you
you got that sway in your back
that juice
them full lips
have a nation
remaining intoxicated
yet they’ll belittle you for what you got naturally
because it’s what they know
they’ll never be
just know that dark or light
you're everything right
you should revel in your melanin
make those people take it in
be proud of your skin
they’ll make you feel like it’s a sin
but don’t let their jealousy win
love your curls that bounce and sway
love your tan that never goes away
love your features that make us proud
love all the shades of brown
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