By Rosaline Virginia Bundeh
A black woman is told:
your smile is dazzling and elegant but it’s too much
your laughter is stunning, but it draws attention and it’s too much
you are hard-working, you bleed your palms and bruise your knees, but it’s not enough
I notice you have two hands that bind softly but you act like they are on cuffs
you are beautiful, your skin glitters but it’s still rough
you are black, you are cultured but you are not black enough
being a black woman is tough
To a black woman, they say:
you talk boldly, you’re defensive but it’s too loud
you work tirelessly but you always frown
Some say: don’t look up, look down
others say: don’t look down, look up, don’t act like a clown
don’t stare, it’s rude, don’t look down it's dumb
you are too ambitious; you’re always chasing something like a crazy cat
you’re this! You’re that!
To a black woman, some say:
your stretch marks resemble the back of a tree and it’s not pretty
your curves are unique but your thighs are too thick
your thighs draw attention. They are too flabby
they define saggy breast as being slutty
they will say; you’re too humble, you’re too rude, you’re too fast, you’re too slow
society will always complain and want black women to act like a supernatural being
when they are treating her like a worthless thing
As a black woman
my elders will hurt me, but I dare not speak
men will touch my hips, and squeeze my thighs, force themselves on me and smile
It’s our culture to be respectful even when they are breaking our bones
or bruising our thighs or painting our faces black and red with a slap
men will rape you, but it’s not new, its most of my sister’s stories,
they say: I am not that beautiful but I am always complaining
I am an attention seeker, so I should stop whining.
Being a black woman is like being against the world
It’s like you carrying mother earth and fighting with the sun and moon
they will expect us to speak after cutting our tongue
society will say ooh no! It’s a girl
and they will shake their heads in disappointment
even if we mop the ocean, they will still point out the tiny drops and say we are lazy or call us an embarrassment
they will send us in the dark, pluck out our eyes and say stop acting blind
We are Champions
Our skin is rich, fresh, dark, and soft, it glitters
Our greatness is about embracing our true selves regardless of the pains or heartaches
I’m a black woman with flaws but I’m me and I’m unique
I’m a pearl
You are a black woman, you are tough, you are priceless, you are rare, you are worth a king’s ransom, you are valuable
Being black is POWERFUL.
Rosaline Virginia Bundeh is a writer and public health practitioner currently residing in Freetown. She finds beauty in words and enjoys the trials of life. You can follow her on twitter at @RBundeh.