I remember in first year I was always being mistaken for a foreigner because of my dark skin. It was tough dealing with that kind of treatment. When people approached me, they used to speak English and I replied in isiXhosa and they would be amazed and shocked that I could speak Xhosa. I always had to explain that I was not a foreigner; I am South African.

Because I grew up in Matatiele there is a huge Sotho influence in my life. I speak Sotho and I practice the Sotho tradition. I don’t like East London much because that’s mostly where I always experienced this kind of treatment. When I was in Durban and Matatiele I never experienced such treatment. I don’t know what caused it but I didn’t let that negatively affect me.

I wrote the following poem just to express how challenging it was for me to deal with people’s opinions regarding my skin colour.

Dark Skinned

They say the darker the flesh,
The deeper the roots
I am black
I am South African
I am dark in complexion
I am just an ordinary person
Like everybody else

However, somewhere, somehow
The colour of my skin works against me
People crack jokes about my complexion
I get labelled as being a foreigner
I now feel uncomfortable of my skin colour
I wish I was also light skinned
It seems like being black is a disadvantage
In the society we live in
It hurts a lot when people of
My own race hate on me
What did I do to deserve such treatment from people?
It feels like I have committed a sin
For being dark skinned

Screw the above statement
I ain’t mad at being dark skinned
I love it
I know that am dark skinned
I don’t need to be reminded of how dark I am
I am what I am and that ain’t gonna change
You can call me what you want
Wanna hate?
Have a nice time doing so
I ain’t gonna feel bad about being the way that I am
Just because of some stupid comments that are made by people
No matter how much negativity is surrounding me,
I won’t let that hamper my progress in life
I am proud of myself
I am dark skinned
And a proud South African
Stick that to your head and staple it

The strength to overcome that challenge I drew from God; He is my only key to surviving and overcoming those challenges.

My mom is a Christian, so we had to go to church when I was growing up. I had to attend Sunday school and honestly, I never enjoyed it. I used to enjoy watching soccer and cricket over the weekend, so going to Sunday school meant that I would miss watching the match or I would catch it halfway. I used to arrive late because I would watch cricket and get caught up in the match and I would end up being late.

I am grateful for all God has done for me and what He is continuing doing in my life. Sometimes we often forget God when things are going well for us in life. But when things change, we then call onto His name and pray for a miracle. God is good all the time. I always ask for his guidance in my life and pray for wisdom.

I make mistakes, I am a human being but it is very important to learn from each one of them. Only God can turn a Mess into a Message, a Test into a Testimony, a Trial into a Triumph, a Victim into a Victor. I get inspired every time I read these words even when I’m in the most difficult times in my life.

One of my favourite gospel songs, which always inspires me, is My life Is in Your Hands by Kirk Franklin. Whenever I hear that song I always have hope in my life because I know God will not let me down; He has big plans for my life. In one part of the song it goes as follows:

So when your tests and trials
They seem to get you down
And all your friends and loved ones
Are nowhere to be found
Remember there’s a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say
Oh I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands>