Beautiful Black

CATEGORY

life

Let's take a flashback in time

A moment to rewind

When we once marched on one accord

Or sang follow the drinking gourd

When our families fought for freedom

And had Harriett Tubman to lead them

And when they spoke of her and said Moses is comin'

Or when Sojourner Truth asked" ain't I a women?"

Or when Fredrick Douglas escaped slavery and profoundly and fearfully told his story

But remember we weren't always slaves we're descendants of glory

Cleopatra & Hatshepsut both donned crowns as queens

And Shaka & Khama both ruled as kings

We were forced to this country by a brutal hand

And even then our greatness showed
and began to grow throughout this land

Like how Billie Holliday and Nat King Cole brought us a jazz and soul attack

Or how George Washington Carver invented one our favorite snacks

Aren't you proud of that black?

Aren't you?

Your bloodline is from greatness

Not fried chicken and lateness

Not crime and violence 

But a fight that is timeless

A fight that is more

A fight for the crowns we once bore

A fight for freedom when we thought there was none

In a time where we walked hand in hand and sang "we shall overcome"

When the great Langston Hughes said "There's no color line in death"

I decide that before I take my last breath

I want to teach my children that my blackness is worthy of respect

And shall be treated as such

Is that to much?

Madam CJ Walker created products for our hair

But we act is if our naturalness isn't good enough to wear

Alvin Ailey danced in a way that connected us to our roots

But we act is if twerking is all we can do

We show off our bodies and put ourselves in display

Though Sarah Baartmen was once displayed as a sideshow as a freak who should be ashamed

Maya Angelou graced us with her gift to mold words

But we act as if reading is something we've never heard

Why is it that we're so afraid to want more?

Isn't that what our ancestors were fighting for?

Dr. King had a dream that we're living out today

Living a historical moment with Barack Obama as head of state

Don't you see your blackness shining bright as stars

Aren't we grateful knowing our dreams are never too far?

I am!

I'm grateful for this beautiful skin

My beautiful black I'm blessed to be in

Whether you're special dark, milk chocolate
Peanut butter, caramel or red bone

You're descendants of greatness
You own your crown and your thrown

Walk in the steps of your brothers & sisters

You're your past and the future

And as we pass the torch to your hand

We want you to proudly walk this land

And say I am greatness

I am blackness

black is flawless

And I've been crowned