A man once asked

 

A man once asked me “Do I wish I was white?”

 

I took a step back with my mouth wide open

 

He looked me up and down, his little black token

 

I worked hard for years to rise to the top

 

I worked through the pain, the misery, even shoveled pig slop

 

As I walked down the road of blood and tears

 

It never occurred to me that it’s my skin they fear

 

Not my smarts, or my looks, it didn’t even matter that I read all their books

 

My beautiful black skin, so dark, so tough

 

Yet it holds beauty that they envy so much

 

It has withstood the lashes of the whip, the crack of a rope

 

Even the deadly rock called dope

 

My beautiful skin is no sin, as they would have me think

 

It feels better to me, than the most expensive mink

 

I love my skin, and for every reason you might think

 

Even though through out history it has caused a stink

 

My skin is a badge of honor, so what makes you think

 

“Do I want to be white” I asked with a laugh

 

Not even if you paid me cold hard cash

Reviews

[justjenn_2u]

To me, I see no color. But I admire your writing, how you are proud of who you are. I wish there was no prejudice. If a man asked you if you wish you were white, I think he needs smacked! God created us in an image he chose and I think we are all beautiful, as well as your poem is.

[1809 Black Plague Decem..]

You just inspired me, if it's ok I will write something called "the color of my skin"; you really made me teary. :O) ---mim

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I enjoyed how you began this poem with a question, answered it, and then re-posed it rhetorically at its conclusion. Was using a red font symbolic that we all bleed the same red blood or do you just like a red font?

[V. Lucien Maier]

Awesome!
You bring the reader into you thoughts, but in the same time educate them on what is really important in this world.
You are you, and I am me and we both have much to offer.
And that has nothing to do with the color of our skin. excellent work