Shades of Blackness

Blackness is a weapon, they say,

I was born guilty and black,

Dark as night and long as the day,

A shadow that lingers, a truth to unpack.

Strides paved with history, echoes of pain,

Yet there’s beauty in struggle, pride in my hue,

With every step forward, I’ll rise from the rain,

A legacy rich, and a world to subdue.

In the heart of the storm, I find my own light,

A strength sewn together through sorrow and song,

With the weight of the past, I stand up and fight,

Embracing my power, where I truly belong.

No chains can bind me, no gaze can confine,

Red, blue, you walk but I have to run

In whispers of wisdom, my spirit will shine,

I soar through the shadows, chasing the sun,

Speed through momentum on medium fuel

Zora bluest eye turns to dark green envy

Afro sheen is not power but a hair pick is cool

Shine my light to uplift, while my heart is heavy

So let them define me, let them misconstrue,

I’ll write my own story, a narrative grand,

With each stanza written, in boldness, I’ll grow,

A black man, unyielding, with dreams still in hand.