To Be Black...
TO BE BLACK!
It is the face of Harriet Tubman.
See she couldn’t simply be.
She shared with so many others…
The blessing of being free.
It is Nelson Mandela.
And his undying dedication.
Over twenty seven years of imprisonment.
But not in vain because he changed a nation.
Simply put, it’s being strong enough to persevere.
Knowing how to silence the voice of fear.
Regardless of the burden, it’s doing a selfless act.
THAT’S what it means…
TO BE BLACK!
It is the poetic thoughts of Renaissance writer, Langston Hughes.
And the cherished writing utensil of his choice.
That paved the way for writers like Maya Angelou to have a voice.
Exemplifying that even though I may face adversity…
Still I can rise to the woman I am…Phenomenally.
It is their creativity that allows lyrical artists to paint their pictures, vividly.
Through these minds, African American literature was brought in tact.
THAT’S what it means…
TO BE BLACK!
It is the intelligence of Frederick Douglass.
Defying the beliefs that black men couldn’t be educated.
It is the wit of Thurgood Marshall.
Showing himself successful in Brown vs. Education when schools were segregated.
It is going against the odds when they are not the truth you seek.
It is proving yourself strong in the company of defeat.
It is proceeding in the direction of triumph and never looking back.
THAT’S what it means…
TO BE BLACK!
It is caring about our future so we won’t relive our past.
It is never forgetting our history and all the obstacles we’ve surpassed.
It is knowing our skin tone never makes us inferior.
It is knowing God equipped us with the strongest exterior.
It is encouraging one another where life has beat us down.
Though we’ve had to bear some heavy crosses…
It is proudly wearing our crowns.
It is recognizing that people unjustly fear us.
And choose violence at the thought of being near us.
Yet, it is taking this sad reality…
And using it as fuel to fire up our unity.
It is teaching young girls to carry themselves with grace.
And teaching them that they are more than the tainted images associated with our race.
It is letting them know they possess a mind filled with intellect.
And all the persuasion of social media, they have the right to reject.
It is teaching our young boys they don’t have to be afraid.
Of the suspense that every time they go out they’ll be meeting an early grave.
It is informing them to apprehend no man other than the most high.
It’s telling them they’re EVERYone’s equal when they want to know why.
It is teaching them to love, so they won’t think it’s strange.
It is letting them know that disrespect is not a compatible exchange.
It is our rhythm. \
It is our soul.
It is every piece of passion that makes our complexion whole.
It is our never-ending faith.
On which our race was based.
It is our hardworking limbs.
That never lets our light go dim.
It is the kink of our hair.
The richness of our pigmentation.
It is the strength bestowed in us.
To survive difficult situations.
In a world of contradictions…
I’ve come to terms with one fact.
To have our hue is to have God’s personalized beauty.
THAT’S what it means…TO BE BLACK!
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