From when I was young they kept on staring
They stared until they couldn’t hold it,
Then they burst into laughter.
Young ones, even older.
They said I was too dark,
And I listened.
They said dark is ugly,
I still listened.
Dark sinned and insecure,
I became.
They broke my spirit
Because I was listening to their criticism.
Because I gave them a chance to critique.
If only I didn’t listen,
I’d be a different dark sinned woman,
Confident and unafraid.
Proud and happy to be me.
Not too dark and insecure.
Like they said I am.