What is Black

See, I could have sworn it was

the opposite of white. I’m almost certain

that it is the reason why Emmett Till

isn’t still here. Or

Trayvon Martin’s mother

can no longer see her son.

Wait, I know. It’s

the reason racism and

Jim Crow laws were born.

But when we,

yes, we,

were having our backs whipped

had our babies plucked from our arms

and our families separated to meet

the means of

dividing and conquering,

we were one.

In the face of oppression we

fought. We conspired

and united

to take back that which was stolen.

When we were the target

of hate and violence

we banded together.

We were black

and we were one.

So I want to know

What is up with this lightskin vs. darksin

nonsense?

You sit and complain about

how the “white man” is

keeping you down. The

government can’t seem to give

you a break. The “white man”

is racist right?

Is that same man

forcing you to declare and base

your beauty off of the lack

of darkness

of your skin?

My God why hast thou forsaken me?

Why is it now we’re free

all we seem to do is destroy

one another?

Light skin, dark skin,

caramel skin, mocha skin,

hella dark skin, purple skin,

YOU ARE BLACK

I promise you they

don’t care what shade

you are and

what percent of “mixed”

you are. Dear child

if you are not white,

then you are black to them.

No amount of group rates,

Twitter drama, the

#teamlightskin or

#teamdarkskin shenanigans

will change that.

If we don’t know

what black is and

that it is not merely

reserved for the darker toned

we have already lost the battle.

No matter what skin

tone, no matter what shade

of “lightness” or “darkness”

we are black

and black is beautiful