It's Not Easy Being Black

And Kermit the Frog said It’s not easy being green Well being black isn’t easy either I don’t blend in with the grass and the leaves But I stand out in seas of ivory Sometimes I get stares of disgust Or confusion And sometimes the sale’s woman watches too closely As I pass down the aisles It’s not easy being black When I watch television And I see the faces of people that aren’t like me Selling me jeans and cars Children’s toys and mops And when a black face does appear They play the part of sassy and stereotypical And their voices have a twang It’s not easy being black When I look back on being a little girl And I hated myself And I wanted to be white So I’d tell people I was really light-skinned That I barely looked black at all Because that would make me more beautiful in their eyes But they’d see I was lying, as they glanced at my arms and face “No you’re not.” They’d say And my heart would be broken But, Kermit says, he loves himself Even though life isn’t easy And I love myself too Because I see being black as having strength And that strength is what I see in my grandmother’s eyes And it reminds me that even though It’s not easy being black It’s something I should cherish and love And appreciate So to my younger self I say be proud Not ashamed And hold your head high Learn about your history Cringe at your people’s horrible past And then smile Because their strength is in your blood And that makes you beautiful, too