Mbalenhle Lyca Khumalo Poet Free verse

Paint Me White and I Will Still Be Black

You can paint me white and I will still be black 
Turn my ebony black hair, make sure the chemicals 
Touch every strand of my hair, erasing all trace of 
My pitch black kaffir but I will still be black.
Teach me how to walk, tell me what to wear
You can even show me your version of
Civilisation yet I will still be black .
Teach me your language, let me master
The vocabulary, the pronunciation but remember,
I will still be black 
Literature, science, physics,decency...yes yes
Fill that in my head puncture your history in the depths
Of me and feed me with your lies but I will still be black
Tell me I'm wrong for my awareness, threaten me with
Prison and even with my life...yes yes 
Persecute me with your words but still I will
Be black no no I will not be a slave nor will
I be less than a human being. My rights
Will be intact and my freedom a shall be won
Because with all you have done, all you think you have
Taught me in your attempt to make me whit..o
During the process of you painting me white!!
I am..I am still black and concious, I am still black
And proud...I am the descendant of that old slave still
That man you would flog all day till there was no more 
Flesh left to be torn, the descendant of that wrinkled
Woman you would forcefully penetrate for years on end
I am that young boy, that young girl you stole away from their 
Families as though their hearts were just mere illusion
I am black and aware of that man you 
Assassinated simply because he cried "freedom"
Steve Biko , Chris Hani, King Albert Luthuli, 
MartinLuther King and Malcom X I am
Sure  you have heard those names
I am the black daughter of that woman you
Disgraced and twisted.I am black 
A black young woman at the peak of her life
Embracing hee struggle felt history
Preparing for the history to be made again 

So, even if you paint me white, burn my hair
With your toxins, dress me like a doll
Tell me how to walk, talk, sit and even eat...
I will still be black as I have a free mind.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Poesy Relish February 2, 2015 at 4:23 AM a strong write mbalehle... great use of words... reminded me of Martin Luther King and the famous speech- I have a dream...black or white, being human is what is important #7.... Mbalenhle Lyca Khumalo February 18, 2015 at 10:38 PM Thank you loads relish..you understood exactly what I wanted to put out....Being human is what matters. Much appreciated :-)