hey, black girl

Hey, black girl,
Walk with your head held high.
Smile with your teeth, perfect white.
I see you, smart and beautiful,
And everything in between.

Be proud of that, your golden skin.
Grin, the Emperor’s rays caress beauty.
You are beauty, black girl.
Let not the scorns of seers of color
Be the bleach that sheds your skin.

Hey, black girl,
Be bold in your covering.
Your golden skin signifies power.
Don it with pride,
Your blackness is true.

Rare magnificence,
One authentic black girl,
Chiseled to perfection.
Stride with your chin up,
Pure valor in every step.

Don't despise it, I beseech,
This color, this pigment inside you.
It is ebony.
Ebony is true.

Love your blackness, black girl.

For you are black and black is you.

Mellissa Crooks is a twenty-something years old Jamaican who fell in love with the art of poetry and storytelling at a tender age. She spends her spare time reading soppy romance books or spending time with her family. You can connect with Mellissa on her social media; @crooksology on Instagram or @crooksology1 on Twitter.