SHADES OF BROWN

I keep hearing them whisper
bout that girl being 'too black'
and I see us not saying anything
and allowing them to criticize
that one thing she can't change
I hear them talking about
light skin versus dark skin
when in reality ... in the end
all black people have black skin

we come in rainbow hues
with different eyes and hair and features
and there is nothing wrong with that
but we act like there is
so what if homegirl is a little thick
so what if that skinny girl looks like a stick
so what if one has 'good hair'
and the other's hair is 'nappy'
cause at the end of the day
we all need to find a way
to be happy and ok with our blackness
that thing we can't ever change

separated internally from the essence of us
negating our heritage and the strength of us
refusing to stand up and unite inspite of them
those who use us to divide us and break us

we are so separated and it saddens me
because I see so much beauty in all of me
and I think that light skin girl is beautiful
and that nappy headed girl is amazing
and that one with the straight hair is pretty cute too
I love the beauty of the darkness
the beauty of the fair
the beauty of the nappiest roots
the beauty in the straightest 'good hair'
and I want us to unite
stop separating and fighting each other
because that one thing they make us fight about
is that thing none of us can un-color

02.21.07