Poem as part of Black Book Box's monthly subscription box for October (2020). Black Book Box provides subscribers with monthly literature by black authors.
At the Table
Black skin
Sculpted a nuanced rainbow of browns
Its tones escaping one dimension
The outer shell that holds the depth of our core
Filled with hopes, plans and dreams
Rich in skill, adorned in culture
Traditions that draw lines across maps
Tribes that add definition
And even as Diaspora…
Planted across a progressive world
Our skin is an irreplaceable treasure box
Like diamonds in the rough
History hid our humanity in dark places
We have journeyed for truth
Boycotted busses
Held placards at parks, streets
Petitioned and studied to be heard
As though our humanity was not enough to lend us a voice
But we persevered… won, changed things
Like caged birds
Pioneers past and present have sang till closed doors
Gave in to daylight
Their melodies of hope birthing seeds of change
That challenged the status quo
We see the fruits of their labour
We are their unshackled self
We are becoming walking dreams
Discovering our identity
Stripping off false labels
Taking a seat at the table
When I see skin
I see it sculpted complex
Surrounded by context
A rainbow of stories
Each shade relevant
And intricately formed to give an individual
A detailed uniqueness
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