"Black is beautiful" my aunt said
As she scrubs us with Filipino whitening soap
I could still feel the burn of that pink scrub
I thought black is beautiful

"I don't want to swim under the sun, I don't want to get black" says my sister
But what's wrong with being black?
We used to love swimming under the sun. No matter how burnt we got
I thought black is beautiful.

"You know that girl, the black one...no offense" says my friend
Why should she be offended though?
What's so offensive?
I thought black is beautiful

"Wow she's so beautiful...and white!" Says my cousin
Its hard to be black
When you live on an island where everyone wants to be white
I thought black is beautiful

"No, I don't want to go...it's too hot" I lie
I'm already black. I don't want to get "blacker"
"Let's go when the sun is down"
Black is not beautiful