To Be Black- And A Woman

I’m a black woman.

My hair is short, my hips are wide my lips are thick.

I’m a black woman.

Naturally when I walk into a room, my skin color introduces itself

But I’m a black woman.

That shouldn’t come as a suprise, right?

I’m a black woman, the color of my skin is besides the point

It’s pretty evident

I’m a woman

And I’m black

I did not choose

To be black and a woman

I did not choose

The burden

Of being black

And a woman

I did not choose to be marginalized

I did not choose to be oppressed

I did not choose

To be black and a woman

I really didn’t

There’s a couple of things I did choose though

I chose to wear my hair this way

I chose to write this poem

I chose to be myself

I chose to be beautiful

Yes, I chose it

I could give you my face today & you wouldn’t be half as beautiful

I chose it

I chose to be beautiful

I chose to choose myself

In a world that doesn’t choose me

I chose it

I chose me

I didn’t choose to be black

I didn’t choose to be a woman

But I chose to be an unapologetic black woman

I chose what I chose

I chose to be fierce, strong, independent, mad.

Yes, I chose to be mad

I’m a mad black woman

Everyday I wake up mad

Because everyday I am reminded that I am a black woman

Everyday I am reminded that I am black

And a woman

Not for the things I chose

Not for the things that make being black and a woman beautiful

Not for any of the good stuff

Everyday black women are sexually abused, molested, raped, killed

Everyday I wake up and I wonder if I’m next

Everyday I wake up and I wonder when’s my turn

Everyday I wake up and I ask God what my crime was to be

Black

And a woman

Black baby girls are not safe

Black toddler girls are not safe

Black teenage are not safe

Black women are not safe

Everyday I am reminded that I am black

And a woman

Like many black women before me

I chose to be strong

But I did not choose to suffer

I shouldn’t have to smile when I don’t want to,

I shouldn’t have to laugh when I’m uncomfortable,

I shouldn’t have to say yes when I want to say no,

just to save my life

I really shouldn’t have to

I did not choose that

And I would never choose that for anyone..

-Shingairai. C