When We Were Beautiful

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Remember the time.
Remember the days.
Before the weave…..
After the straightening comb and fried dried perm, wig…….
When we were beautiful,
Oh, so black and beautiful.
When the character of black was natural beauty.
Full shaped, shaved afro, natural "angela davis beautiful"!
Afro
No chemicals, no perms, no madame Whoever
No purchased existential emulations of beauty from a foreign, shaved head
No synthetic being.

How can I feel beautiful with someone else’s hair?
No locks of beauty yet, yet, yet
Or fake braids down the back like you woke.
However you may have be born, you wore it, proudly.

But natural black beauty, real awoke.
Just our washed and sun-dried selves, picked  out and afro sheen, clean  pure razor-sharp black hair
Fists razed in defiance of oppression and beautiful.
“A natural,” they said
“Naturally, beautifully pure”

Now, WE ARE STILL BEAUTIFUL
Woke and beautiful!
A beauty that costs,
Nothing!
A beauty of the spirit
That has always and will always
BE NATURAL!

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Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/19/2025 9:20:00 PM

Awesome poem!

Janis Medders Tobechi
Date: 2/21/2025 5:04:00 PM

Thanks

thriveni c mysore

Date: 2/2/2025 6:53:00 PM

A message to embrace who and what we are is necessary. Your call to respect one's roots is relevant. Different take, so well written dear poet. Congratulations on your win, cheers!!!

Janis Medders Tobechi
Date: 2/3/2025 10:27:00 AM

Thanks much for your support and comments. At 72, you feel this way sometimes. Tattoos nevt. Smile. Love and blessings. Janis

Karen Jones

Date: 2/2/2025 1:41:00 PM

This poem is a personal fav and I could embrace the melancholic message of inspiration in natural beauty! The last line asks an important question. Underneath all the bs yes we are still beautiful! Though I detest weave etc I understand why many feel they need it. Your poem can be a wake up call to embrace what God gave us! Congrats on your placement in my contest and thanks for your entry!

Karen Jones
Date: 2/5/2025 6:57:00 PM

Prayers for healing and do take it easy after surgery!

Janis Medders Tobechi
Date: 2/3/2025 10:30:00 AM

I am greatly appreciative for your placement and fav, Tytping today after cataract surgery is hard. Thank you so much for the inspiration. I know I can go on with the work.