the last few weeks have ignited a worldwide conversation on racism within the united states. a divided earth came together. the last few weeks have been full of anger against a broken system, sadness and mourning for those who fell victims to it, pride in those who are doing the right thing, and reflection. reflection on my own existence as a afro-latina woman, on the values of those that surround me as their silence screams, on the ugly reality of racism, and on the uprising and reckoning which beats down its front door.
and although words normally come so easily to me, i was stumped. i could not find the words to describe my sentiments.
this is when a good friend of mine, Nova Brown, found every single word i had lost. so without further ado, i introduce a poem entitled: Two Shades Darker Than You, written by none other than Nova Brown. I am honored to present it to you.
Two Shades Darker Than You
Black.
This is what I am before anything else. It is my identity, the first thing anyone notices about me.
Before woman, I am Black.
Before daughter, I am Black.
Before child, I am Black.
This identity has chosen me. Dark skin, nappy hair, big lips, dark eyes.
Black chose me.
Black chose my mother and Black chose my father.
Black chose both their mothers, and both their fathers.
Black chooses its people.
Black’s choice comes with love. Music that pervades in every culture. Food that people traveled across seas to find. Movement that can express any emotion.
Community, culture, love.
Black gives its people all of this.
But Black has only blessed few.
Those who Black has not chosen loot our culture, steal our bodies.
They teach us to hate what Black has blessed us with.
Those whom Black did not chose, shame those who it has blessed.
They steal our identity - Niger, Negro, Thug - our new name.
They take Black.
They rape Black.
They kill Black.
They try to destroy Black.
And they expect Black to sit there and take it,
Because they have tried so hard to make us hate Black.
Our Black.
My Black.
They try and disguise themselves,
“The protectors in blue”
Two shades darker than black.
But Black sees you.
They give us false freedom.
“You are not owned,”
“Just looked over by a uniform two shades darker than you.”
Blue does not protect Black.
In fact, Blue was made to keep Black in fear.
Blue was made to keep Black feeling like cattle - in cages.
Blue claims it is a friend of Black,
Disguising itself as
“Two shades darker than you”
But Blue is a choice.
Black is for the chosen.
you can find Nova on her instagram: @novabrownn
here are a few links to educate and impel us to action in different aspect of the current status of the world; from famine in yemen, to the BLM movement, and a few things in between.