“somebody/ anybody
sing a black girl’s song
bring her out
to know herself
to know you
but sing her rhythms
carin/ struggle/ hard times
sing her song of life
she’s been dead so long
closed in silence so long
she doesn’t know the sound
of her own voice
her infinite beauty
she’s half-notes scattered
without rhythm/ no tune
sing her sighs
sing the song of her possibilities
sing a righteous gospel
let her be born
let her be born
& handled warmly.”
For Colored Girls When The Rainbow Is Enuf (Excerpt)
– Ntozake Shange
Dear Little Brown Girl,
I love you. I cherish you I see you I am you
Wherever you are on this earth, I hope you are engulfed in the richest love
I hope you have “your people” that remind you how valuable you are
I hope you know and feel the way your ancestors celebrate screamed and sang with joy as you came into these dimensions because of how powerful of a force your existence is and continues to be
You are a superhero. you like math, science and could do advanced calculus in your head. You have the supernatural power of rocking a blazer or a lab coat with no motive
You have powers that have been passed from generations, planted into that beautiful soul of yours as your strong intuitive nature guides you and maneuvers you like the butterfly you have always been
It is bomb to know that your army has no physical weapons but your “artillery” is in the form of herbalism, dreams, and rituals transcended from the ancestors
Brown girl you are sacred
You have keys codes and secrets no one else can hold
You are magic that the world is fortunate to have
From trends, academia, and professions you are a force to be reckoned with
I am fortunate to have you here.
I hope that you feel adorned in that beautiful rich skin in which you look at yourself in the mirror and smile at your own beauty.
Admiring the way your eyes crystalize in the sun’s beams
The way your freckles and your nose acknowledges the flavor you bring to everyone’s life
Perplexed by the way history grows out of your head in the form of kinks and curls
As you begin to navigate the world, you will learn that society thrives on you hating yourself
But I ask that you allow your kind heart and brightness to never be dimmed-Ever.
Your big dreams matter. Your skin is not too dark your hair isn’t a “distraction”
Your name should be called and never me “too hard to pronounce”
When and if anybody tells you these things stand firmly
Stand in your spirit. Stand in your beauty. Stand in your power.
And always remember that you are never alone- your ancestors and intuitive nature guides you through any harm or destruction
Listen to when I say you are enough
The magic that lies in your skin transcends endlessly in your existence
You embody poise, grace, humility
I am you and you are me
We are our ancestor’s wildest dreams