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I Do Not Belong To You

I will not be your puppet in a minstrel show Because I guarantee no Mammy, Jezebel, or Sambo lives here You may try to control my thoughts and dreams But I will not be your Venus Hottentot As you stare in awe of my beauty through a glass cage I will not be your freak show or your gateway to a cultural experience So please find your own I will not be your token prize that you flaunt for credibility Referencing my existence ever-so-often to quench your thirsty guilt I will not allow you to parade my black skin as a badge of honor I will not let you touch my kinky locs I will not let you use my tears to wash away your sins I will not ‘dance monkey dance’ I will not sing or perform for you My body is not a vessel for your insecurities Do not twist and turn my limbs into a web of amusement I will not plaster a smile on my face while you poke and prod my soul Because I do not belong to you

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Line Gauthier

Date: 2/7/2021 9:49:00 AM

It's a pleasure to find your powerful poem published in the 2020 PS Anthology, Belle.

Jennifer Fenn

Date: 10/18/2020 2:14:00 PM

Very thought provoking and powerful. It’s also inspiring for anyone who needs to learn to stand up for themselves.

Kieran Pavlick

Date: 9/23/2020 8:24:00 AM

Wow. Emotional, yet with clarity. I remember what the late Kurt Vonnegut said, “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”

Celine B
Date: 9/23/2020 3:00:00 PM

I think it is important to understand the lens from which this poem was written. It goes far beyond pretense. It is the liberation of the black psyche and soul under the white gaze. There is a historical legacy of blackness being commodified, stereotyped, and used for the entertainment of white people - hence the references to blackface and racist archetypes that were used to ridicule black people in the 19th and 20th century. This stereotyping still exists today, and so this poem is a repudiation of such labels or boxes. Nevertheless, I'm glad you enjoyed the poem!

Edward Ibeh

Date: 9/16/2020 6:16:00 PM

Powerful, brilliant and captivating write, Celine:-) I thoroughly enjoyed your poem. Welcome to poetrysoup!

Celine B
Date: 9/17/2020 1:42:00 AM

Thank you, Edward! I'm honored to receive the stamp of approval from such a prolific and talented poet!:)