I saw this this morning while I was crafting my other blog posts and am finally getting a moment to put something up.

Happy Black Girl Day is a monthly event that happens on the second Wednesday every month. It was created by Sister Toldja.  I Just learned about this today and I want to take part.

Since it’s my first, I guess I can post a poem I wrote when I was in college.
I wrote it for an event when I was in NAACP, but chickened out from reading it to an audience.

haha sort of typical me.

Instead I read it to my e-board members during our meeting.

*Editor’s note: This is NOT to offend. This was written in 2005. I was a different person then. And as we all evolve and become better and more refined versions of ourselves, we express ourselves differently. That being said, I am not ashamed or regretful of anything I write. It’s an honest reflection of a moment and thus remains so. This is written with the purpose to uplift. Not everything is meant for everyone. Thanks.*

Shades of Brown

They’d have you believe that we’re not beautiful

They’d do whatever they can to dirty our tone

We are not black-like night.

We’re like the beautiful black sands of Kaimu

The Red earth of Mayan ruins in Mexico

Our sister in the Sahara with the sun-kissed shades

Our olive-skinned sisters

And our outright “dark” sisters

We’re beautiful – these shades of Brown.

From our full lips and high cheekbones

(because Native Americans are shades of Brown too) to our slow and sexy sachets.

Men all over want to love us all over.

No I will not perm or even straighten my hair.

There is nothing wrong with my curls

They are not nappy at the back of my neck and even if they were – SO WHAT!?!

They’re MINE!

So grace the cover of

Essence

of Vibe

because you are so beautiful.

Just like a pearl

just like a Beautiful Black pearl

Your beauty is rare

So go on

Don’t be ashamed

Don’t let them tell you how to be

Don’t cover it up

with cover-up

All the Shades of Brown

stand up now

All the Shades of Brown stand

Up Now

All the Shades of Brown stand up

Now!

Now!

Now!

Now!

Now!

Now!