Sorry for being me

I'm sorry for being black I'm sorry I ever cared Every moment Every smile Was pity Why be ashamed? When I'm just me Standards on standards to fit Expectations to meet People to please Now I am ashamed Ashamed that I could not fit and distort my true self for others Eight years old, on a staircase, trying to scrape off my complexion Maybe if I was not this way people would like me Too light Too dark Things I cannot change I ought to be ashamed To whitewashed, Too woke I should have never spoke You leave me on a staircase, wondering where I went wrong I'm sorry for being black, I'm sorry for being me The expectations of a girl, a black one are so hard to meet Too bright Too shallow It's not right You should sink back, let the men do the talking We are not the obedient children we used to be Your boys are men and your girls are now women Why do you still try to clip their wings, I'm sorry for being black; I'm sorry for being me An apology, is all this should be.