Color Doesn't Define Me

Color Does Not Define Me

By Yvonne Boyer

How can you define me by my skin?

How can you tell me that I’m not black?

‘Cause I ain’t talkin’ like this

or walkin’ like that

You see my intelligence

as strange and perplexing

You say that I can’t be black because

Of the grades I make

You label me as one of you

Because of my brain

You approve of me

because I don’t act ally or ghetto

But when I act sassy or show a little color,

You call me angry or irrational

You claim that I’m playing the black card

And see me as a light switch

You say that I am white

 because of my success

You tell me that you’re happy

for my accomplishments,

but you secretly wish for my demise

How can you praise me with one mouth

And desire for my downfall with another?

You gossip to one another saying,

“Well, how come she don’t hang

with those Johnsons girls?”

Keisha and Bonquisah are pregnant again,

While I’m getting a college degree

I don’t need to explain myself to you

I don’t need to tell you who I am

Because my actions speak louder than

My words

While you hate on me,

I will be dreaming, planning, building

An empire that you can’t even imagine

The light that God gave me that is

who I am

You can hate me,

But you can’t help to stop and stare

My light shines everywhere I go

I’ll take my flame and ignite it for other generations

Who wish to do great things

I am a child of God

I am fierce

I am phenomenal

I am black excellence