As you watch the sun go down,
it’s bright orange colours blazing the skies,
remind you of the years you burned away,
self-loathing in front of a mirror.
Listening to taunts from kids who didn’t love themselves,
why you had to be so dark,
your nose too big and wide,
your lips too thick.
Now when you look in the mirror,
you see a reflection of your ancestors
and admire the thickness of your black.
You appreciate the way your skin glistens in the sun.
The nose you used to loathe,
You see it nesting your dad’s face,
a man you love so.
The lips you once hated,
is the only prominent feature,
you inherited from your dearly departed mum.
So as you watch the bright orange glisten,
and remnants of the evening sun,
lighten up the sky,
in an array of multitude hues,
you see a poignant example,
of all things beautiful – and beautiful you are!
Why I wrote this
When I was a teenager, a racial slur was hurled at me by another black kid, and I let it affect my self-esteem. The word used was blik.
Unfortunately, I still hear this word being used by other black kids to describe darker skin tones of black. It is wrong, and needs to stop!
The message
This poem is for any black girl or boy who doesn’t like what they see in the mirror – especially because of unkind words said to them in contempt.
If you’re reading this right now, I want you to know that you are beautiful.
You are a reflection of your parents and ancestors. If you love them, surely you can love yourself too.
As you admire a beautiful sunset, understand that you are a masterwork of God’s creation. After all, you were made in God’s image – and he makes no mistakes.