That Black {Folks} Magic
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They used to call me ugly,
my afro puffs laced with ribbons
jet black
but in the sun, glistening
my kinky coils tight
still learning wrong from right
even though I may be pretty,
it doesnt matter cuz my skin is too dark to be mixed with white,
They used to say I'm ugly,
My big forehead, luscious lips,
and curvy frame, bodacious hips
tried to make me hate myself
as though I wasn't spit from the womb of God,
a beautiful creation,
self hate, the first sign of degradation
the scale of beauty
is heavily unbalanced
To be black AND beautiful in America
Its not a curse but a definite challenge.
A challenge to show you are more courageous
than the cowards that beat and killed our patriarchs
and raped and tortured
our great-grand mothers,
all in one orgasmic bastardized baby's breath
a challenge to not be obselete
to be trending on as many social media sites as you can think,
make it too hard this time to delete
who we are in this world,
our contributions,
doing things so unique,
And profound,that it astounds
even the smartest men and women alive
A challenge to be respected,
Cuz through history we've been subjected
to and elected
to carry the burdened seeds of the 'Massah'
Where is our freedom,
where is our break,
The chase of the dogs, the water hoses
How many more whips on the back
with the sound of a crack-er
can we continue to take
the church bombing,
and strange fruit dangling from the tree,
burning crosses, the smell of burnt flesh
smoke as high as the eye can see
They used to call me ugly,
but then I realized it wasnt me they hated
The hair, the curves, the beauty
only angered their green eyed monster
so that is all they perpetuated
they used to call me ugly
then I saw my truth one day
looking in the mirror,
I heard a small voice say,
Your hair is of the best grade
I didnt give it to everyone
Your skin is a rich copper shade
To absorb my warming sun
Your hips are wide and spread
to bring forth the gift of life,
your shoulders broad and strong
to carry the load that most cannot
your struggle is the hardest
Because I made you able to stand
behind and support the weight
of your equally strong black man.
(c) 2016. LeToya L. Williams
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