To the racist woman in the grocery store

 I am strong & African American.

I hear the sounds of people yelling “You’re worthless, You’ll never be anything!” AND “You’re way to ghetto!”

I see the pain in your eyes when those harsh words are spoken, and you wonder “Is all this worth it?”

I pretend not to care when my African roots are insulted.

I feel the pain when racism is shot at me like bullets from a gun.

I touch my skin wondering, why am I so dark? Why is my hair so curly? Why was I even born this way?

I worry that one day my children might have to deal with this cruel, harsh world of discrimination and segregation.

I cry to myself as another day goes by as yet another person life has been taken just to become another hashtag on social media.

I understand that I am a Black Queen, and you don’t like me because of the shade of my skin or the shape of my body.

I say we can be equal, but the harsh ways of racism have already driven a knife so deep that you can’t even begin to pull it out.

I dream that one day we can make a change in the world, so my people won’t be arrested or killed based upon appearances, or racial slurs won’t be shouted at us as we walk the streets.

I try to hold back the tears, but it’s like African Americans have a toothache that only the whites of this world can pull.

I try to understand why you hate me so much but will pay top dollar for those assets I was already born with.

#BLACKLivesMatter, not #ONLYBlackLivesMatter, We’ve been silent for too long. Now it’s the time to step up and make a difference. Never give up this fight it’s far from over.