Black ladies whose skin mirrors this evening, do not believe what is said about beauty...

Black ladies whose skin mirrors this evening
Do not believe what is said about beauty
Let them know the portraits you can paint with your time here
Let them know you are new to this place still
And you are not going anywhere
Become a warrior for your validity
Speak like love but walk
Like fire
You have it in you to speak for your entire nation
You have within you a voice that is strong
Know the impact of your stance, graceful beings
Know that previous footsteps do not determine those you have yet to make •

It is said that Black women, especially those of a darker hue, are the most hated - lying at the intersection of woman and Black, Black women in the United States are one of most ignored populations.

We are murdered, and there is little effort to find the culprit. It seems that our lives are not valuable to the mainstream perception.

No matter - when you have gone through such pain, you develop such strength. If we are the most hated, we are also the strongest from having endured such conditions.

If black is the most chic, most aesthetic, most beautiful color, then naturally those who have this color upon them have the most beautiful color.

Black women were allowed to vote in the United States less than 100 years ago. We are just getting started in this country. And with this strength we have developed, we will excel beyond our wildest dreams. We are not going anywhere. •

Poem from Four Years in Chrysalis
© Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq Publishing
Follow @AishaTariqa for more daily poetry •