My Black is Beautiful

From the colour of my skin, to the texture of my hair
to the length of my strands, to the breadth of my smile

To the stride of my gait, to the span of my arms, to the depth of my bosom
to the curve of my hips, to the glow of my skin...
My black is beautiful

It cannot be denied. It will not be contained.
And only I will define it.

For when I look in my mirror, my very soul cries out,
My black is beautiful

And so today, I speak it out loud, unabashedly I declare it anew.
My black is beauiful.

Whether celebrated, immitated, exploited or denigrated
Whether natural from inside or skilfully applied
My black is beauiful.

To my daughters, my sisters, my neices, my cousins, my colleaugues and my friends,
I speak for us all when I say again,

My black is Beautiful.

By: Saundra Heath