Don'T Look Black

Growing up,
 as a child,
 I was taught many CLICHES. 
Some I,
 took heed to,
 others I never OBEYED.

One cliché that never DEPARTED,
was never dwell,
 on the place you STARTED.

Meaning,
 always look forward,
 and never look BACK.

The one I taught myself,
 don’t look white,
 but never look BLACK!

Meaning, 
never forget who you are,
 and where you came FROM!

Always remember,
 the past,
 has already been DONE!

I was brought,
 into this world,
 9/22/1983 to live as ONE.

A few days ago,
 I was told I was having a girl,
 although I always prayed for a SON!



It’s kind of funny,
 how things,
 work out like THAT.

But one of the most important things,
 I will teach Jazzlin Sapphire Williams,
 is never look BLACK!

I will tell her,
 this world is based on opinion,
rather than on the FACTS!

A reality who fears, a society of BLACK!

I asked two people,
 what does BLACK,
 means to EACH.

Both of them,
 had two meanings,
 they tried to PREACH .
The first,
 I ask,
 had white SKIN.

He said,
 when God made BLACK,
 he started SIN!

The other one,
 I asked,
 of dark SKIN.

He replied,
 I wish I was white,
 it’s hard on me, and my FRIENDS.

I found,
 both of their thoughts,
 different but SIMILAR.
With me being black,
 I thought,
 both were FAMILIAR.

BLACK!  
WHITE!
 Appears different in my EYES!

Over my years,
 I have broken down each word,
 to mean both good and BAD!
I have decided,
 to write a few,
 with this pen and PAD.

Many white people,
 are raised on opinion,
 rather than the FACTS.
Dark people are raised,
 on the negative,
 meaning of BLACK!
Negative,
 	Verses 
Positive! 
Are at a constant COMBAT!
NEGATIVE
Brutal, Beaten, Bad, BELITTLED,
Lazy, Lacking, Low, LIFELESS,
Attitude, Angry, Aggravating, ANNOYING, 
Crazy, Combative, Curious, CARELESS,
Kinky, Knockoff, KNOCKOUT!

POSTIVE
Bold, Brave, Better,
Longevity, Listens, Loving,
Attentive, Attractive, Arrogant, 
Courageous, Conceded, Caring, Careful,
Kind, Kindred, KING!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2006

Poem

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Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace