What if I am A Black Woman?
What If I Am A Black Woman?
Is it a disease?
Well, if it is,
I sure hope its catching
Because they need to pour it into a bottle,
label it, and sprinkle it
All over the people,
Men and women who ever loved or cried,
worked or died
For any one of us.
So...
What if I am a Black woman?
Is it a crime? Arrest me!
Because I'm strong, but I'm gentle,
I'm smart, but I'm learning,
I'm loving, but I'm hateful.
And I like to work because I like to eat
And feed and clothe and house
Me, mine and yours and everybody's
Like I've been doing for the past 300 years.
What if I am a Black woman?
Is it insane? Commit me!
Because I want Happiness, not tears;
Truths not lies;
Pleasure not pain;
Sunshine not rain;
A man not a child!
What if I am a Black woman?
Is it a sin? Pray for me!
And pray for you too,
If you don't like women of color
Because we are...
Midnight Black, Chestnut Brown, Honey Bronzed,
Chocolate Covered, Cocoa Dipped,
Big Lipped, Big Breasted, and BEAUTIFUL
all at the same time!
So.. what if I am a Black Woman?
Does it bother you that much
Because I want a man who wants me...
Loves me and trusts me,
and respects me
And gives me everything
Because I give him everything back,
PLUS!!
What if I am a Black woman?
I've got rights, same as you!
I have worked for them,
died for them, played and laid for them,
On every plantation from Alabama to Boston
and Back!
What if I am a Black woman?
I love me, and I want you to love me too,
But I am as I've always been,
Near you, close to you, beside you,
strong giving, loving,
For over 300 years,
Your Black woman...Love me!
Now aint that something??
WasiWasi
Is it a disease?
Well, if it is,
I sure hope its catching
Because they need to pour it into a bottle,
label it, and sprinkle it
All over the people,
Men and women who ever loved or cried,
worked or died
For any one of us.
So...
What if I am a Black woman?
Is it a crime? Arrest me!
Because I'm strong, but I'm gentle,
I'm smart, but I'm learning,
I'm loving, but I'm hateful.
And I like to work because I like to eat
And feed and clothe and house
Me, mine and yours and everybody's
Like I've been doing for the past 300 years.
What if I am a Black woman?
Is it insane? Commit me!
Because I want Happiness, not tears;
Truths not lies;
Pleasure not pain;
Sunshine not rain;
A man not a child!
What if I am a Black woman?
Is it a sin? Pray for me!
And pray for you too,
If you don't like women of color
Because we are...
Midnight Black, Chestnut Brown, Honey Bronzed,
Chocolate Covered, Cocoa Dipped,
Big Lipped, Big Breasted, and BEAUTIFUL
all at the same time!
So.. what if I am a Black Woman?
Does it bother you that much
Because I want a man who wants me...
Loves me and trusts me,
and respects me
And gives me everything
Because I give him everything back,
PLUS!!
What if I am a Black woman?
I've got rights, same as you!
I have worked for them,
died for them, played and laid for them,
On every plantation from Alabama to Boston
and Back!
What if I am a Black woman?
I love me, and I want you to love me too,
But I am as I've always been,
Near you, close to you, beside you,
strong giving, loving,
For over 300 years,
Your Black woman...Love me!
Now aint that something??
WasiWasi
posted by Wasiwasi at 12:13 AM
2 Comments:
I like the confidence and assertiveness of this poet!! Quite often minorities defend themselves by majoring on the shortcomings of those who descriminate against them. This piece amplifies the strenghts of the black woman so effectively and with no apologies. Such a high sense of self awareness and ability to communicate same can go a long way towards arming black women to stand their ground. I sure would love to see this piece perfomed live on stage by a seasoned performer.
I guess the other side of the issue would be for black women to embrace their own identity and just live it! Does not help when the black woman comes accross as shunning the same self.
Now, black women didn't say a thing on this poem, so I dared. If am insane, then commit me!!
Papa Mtiriki
Well written article.
Post a Comment
<< Home