Our skin is not a costume

Our pain is not your entertainment 
We don't exist purely for your amusement 
My skin is not a costume 
Don't treat us like we are some display In a showroom

We won't apologise for our presence 
We will walk in every room with our heads up
Our silence our greatest weapon
It honours our intelligence 
Your biggest flaw is your smugness 
Our existence is your weakness
No wonder you try to demean us

Our afro is not an invitation 
Your hands don't get to ruin hours of preparation 
It is not for your exploration 
And no we won't explain why it's so sacred
You dont get to be racist 
But be in awe of our self made creation

We are proud of our blackness
You dont get to witness our greatness 
Or be a part of our self celebration
Especially when you spent all your life on hating us
You dont deserve us 
Nor our forgiveness
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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