My Chocolate Be

My chocolate be

My chocolate be delicious 

Smooth and crisp easy to take in 

My chocolate be my crown that I wear on the top of my curly head that glows each time a person looks in my direction

My chocolate be lit 

It be on fire like their hands when they try to touch my curvy hips 

My chocolate be Jasmine

The flower that blooms in the fields of our oppression

Who knew that flowers could blossom in the face of prejudice

My chocolate be hot combs and corn bread

The soul food my grandmother and great grandmothers on both sides cooked in their kitchens

That too hot to touch chocolate 

That dark chocolate that’s brilliant in flavor 

That chocolate that makes your mouth water even before it reaches it

That chocolate that is 100% rich. authentic 

My brown skin is a golden ticket 

And the only way to reach your destination is to read the backstory and figure out where all of this began

The history of the women who died trying to give me the freedom to embrace my black skin

The skin that so many attempt to cover up with foundations and bleaching

Their skin was thick

Thick enough to take the slang words like bitch and nigger and still hold it down for future generations 

Their chocolate was deep, dark, sensual, intelligent, loving, strong, powerful

Their chocolate raised the future Michelle Obama’s, Colin Capernicks, Shawn King who is the leader of the black lives matter movement 

Their confidence moved mountains and they carried the weight of our men on their shoulders

Their chocolate was FEARLESS!

And it helped my chocolate to come into existence.

Now I have the self confidence to show others my true colors and not be ashamed of it 

Because of this my future daughter will love herself and her daughter , and her granddaughter until we start a trend

And so I leave you with this oh beautiful chocolate women

Love yourselves in your own skin

Don’t try to be someone you’re not

And when you stare in the mirror and attempt to face what’s wrong

Remember that there’s No need to fix what God already put his paint brush on