A little black girl with her hair in four braids that stick out from her head

who plays double dutch with her friends on the playground and can always jump to on hundred

who wears flouncing pinkc dresses and those special ruffles socks to Sunday school- the kind of socks that only black mothes know where to find

a little black gir with a mind as piercing as an arrow

With a sparkle in her eye

and a dream that touch the sky

i want you to remember that the earht loves you

it alwaysopens it arms when you come near with your laughter and you vivd imaignation

why elses do you think it made thet whites of your eyes so clear,

gave you haur that reaches toward the sky in a soft cloud,

when your dark eyes sparkle and twinkle, havent you noticed that the birds turn to look?

Remember this, this woven basket of love that encircles you

because the world will try to make you forget it

Theyll tell you first that youre ugly

in their words and the nasty curl of their lips, theyll say

that the beautiful brown skin that covers you might as well be a cloak of dirt

that you nappy hair is as course and messy as a rat's nest

that your nose is too big ans your lips are disgustingly think

for proof, theyll compare you to someone who looks nothing like you

they theyll tell you that youre stupid and ignorant and unruly

Disregarding the way words flow out of your mouth like a mightly river, rushing and alive

Theyll call you things liek "baby momma" and "black bitch" before you even know what they mean

in all this, theyll try to wound your pride

crush you spirit

 

Break your heart 

so youll fall to your knees in surrender, thinking youre worthless, no longer abled to follow your own destiny

and foar a time, they succeed

for a time youll feel so lonely and ugly and misrable that youll wish to be reborn as something, anything other than what you are

youll wonder; if i could earse this dark sin, this curse, maybe people would love me.

Then, daughter of Africa

Then you must remember the words that i told you

You were made to capture the sunshine

your rich voice was mad to call the spirits out of their hidding places in the earth,

Made to rouse people from their slumber with its endless depth and resonace

your wits and wisdom and intelligence and passion and flame and soul and most of all, your tender desperate love that knows no bounds and never runs dry-

these all echo like a shout to the highest heavens

and for a moment, everything stands still, in awe of your presence

Remember your power 

Remember strength

Remember your beauty and wisdom and love--

and chase after your dreams recklessly and fearlessly

when you rise, truly rise,

not even death will keep your spirit from lighting the skies

the hidden pathways will be illuminated

and the seas will part from you as you pass by

as for love--

Human love--

there will be many who will recognize the tilt in your head and the sparkle in your eyes as the marks of one who holds the stars in the palm of her hand.

and theyll fall so far in love they may never be abled to find their way out of it

Little black girl

with you future so bright

with your smile that could warm the loneliest heart

Remmeber that God will always be with you

so rise

take flight