By Ililli Ahmed
Although February is over, Black history, as well as the history of all minorities, still deserves to be celebrated everyday; as a part of school curricular and implicated in everyday learning. Each year, we are one step closer to making the rich and thriving history of Black people as widely know as it deserves to be, and with every step forward, another milestone is created.
In this poem I wrote in honour of Black beauty, I address a poignant issue in our society: whereby Eurocentric beauty standards dominate and intimidate people of color. I wrote this from my point of view as a Black girl facing this unfair bias.
I hope you enjoy it, and I wish you all a happy Black history year!
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My Black is Beautiful
In the way that my skin shines in the sunlight
And how it radiates as I go.
In the melanin that I create,
I know that my black is beautiful.
The way that every shade has a story to tell, long histories and journeys to show,
I see them, and I smile and I hope that they know
That their black is beautiful.
The media likes to pit us against one another,
Using our ranging shades to categorize and divide
But I know that whatever they try to make us into
Our black will always thrive
They try and deceive our perception of ourselves
Creating sub-sections based on the lightness of our skin.
A method so powerful, it’s become something our own men believe in
But no matter what they say, what they do what they think
I know that my black will always win.
Eurocentric beauty standards say,
Too dark is just too much, and too light just ain’t “black” enough,
But the middle is “just right”
A way of thinking that can paralyze and divide
A design, intriguing to some, but so crippling to others
That serves to make only a few believe
That their black can achieve and succeed.
Because the whiter you are, the prettier you’re seen to be.
As black girls, we know this to be true.
And even though I know my black is beautiful, do you?
Do you realize how hurtful it is, when you act like one certain colour is as beautiful as can be?
How it pains our chests to see that we can never be that, as if we are not worthy
Of love, or support or respect
All because our hair isn’t straight and lips are thick?
How disheartened I am at this cruel reality
Where my natural hair, is not seen as a synonym for beauty.
Where the more Euro-centric features I carry,
The more I qualify on this scale of white supremacy.
And where the lightness or darkness of my skin are always defining me.
How I long for the day, where we are all considered beautiful
Where we are not picked or chosen, like dolls in an aisle
Because we are not here for your amusement,
Your fetishizing, or your rules.
It’s a long time coming but we’re here to prove
That my black, your black and all black
Is beautiful.
About the writer
Hi, my name is Ililli Ahmed! I’m a tenth grade student who loves open-mindedness, equality and Beyoncé. In the past I’ve written articles for Radio-Canada, and have been published in Canadian anthologies. I aspire to one day become a human rights lawyer, journalist and activist. You can contact me at [email protected].