To the Black Girl I Once Was
A poem by Kamsie O.
To the Black girl I once was
The girl who didn’t love herself
Looked in the mirror every time
Mildly screaming in horror
To the Black girl I once was
The girl who permed her hair straight
Constantly ensuring my hair is flat
The curls of identity and blackness sautéed
To the Black girl I once was
Infuriated by my skin
The desire to be lighter
The desire to feel like I’m a part of the race
A race that seemed like it was
me against My Peers
To the Black girl I once was
Apprehensive to speak
Overshadows of my opinions
And resistance from words
To the Black girl I once was
Diversity was merely a incomprehensible phrase
The arrays of Barbie dolls & a melange of toys
Toys that didn’t portray me
Me or my skin
The insecurities start to settle in
To the Black girl I once was
Wanting to get rid of my figure
Thinking I was not skinny enough for
Societal Conformities & its expectations
To the Black girl I am now
Please forgive me
For I have not come to discover who I was
Where I came from
Who I wanted to be
And why I wanted to be me
To the Black girl I am now
Oceans of tears was enough
Feeling like one has been shut out
Differences one cannot simply explain
To the Black girl I am now
I rise
I stand
And I come to peace
To the Black girl I am now
Kinky curls ever glistening
Skin as pure as gold
Ecstasy to share thanks & giving
Curves as pronounced as an African queen
To the Black girl I am now
To the Black girls WE are
We are black, and being black
Is being proud & free