A series of poems celebrating Black voices, pride, and legacy. Read, reflect, and embrace your greatness.
"Hey Black Child"
Hey Black Child, your hair is as precious as gold.
Your skin shines as bright as the sun.
Your smile is as big as the world.
Hey Black Child, your worth more than what's given to you.
It's your time to rise.
It's your time to show them why your one of a kind.
Hey Black Child.... The world is yours!!
Written by Ra'Nya Graham
"Who Taught You?"
Who Taught You to hate the color of your skin?
Who Taught You to hate the shape of your nose?
Who Taught You to hate the shape of your lips?
Who Taught You to hate your walk and your talk?
Who Taught You to hate the way you dress?
Who Taught You That?
Who Taught You that you're unworthy?
Who Taught You to stay silent?
Who Taught You to hate your looks?
Who Taught You That?
We need to love our skin, our voice, our hair, our walk and our talk.
We need to love ourselves from our head to our toes.
Your skin tells a story so embrace it.
And if anyone ever asks who taught you that,
I DID!
written by Ra'Nya Graham
"Is it the way?"
Is it the way that I dress?
Is it the way I style my hair?
Is it the way that I walk?
Is it the way I carry myself?
Or is it the way my skin looks that upsets you?
What a shame it is the world we live in today.
Because of my skin it is assumed that I can't do what the whites do.
But you should never be ashamed of your skin.
Because being black is an honor, because you come from greatness!!
And anything they can do YOU CAN do better
Because you my black child
You are exceptional.
And can't nobody take that away from you.
written by Ra'Nya Graham. (The quote "being black is an honor, because you come from greatness" is inspired by the film "The Hate U Give")
"Because He Had a Dream"
Many know Martin Luther the King
By the man who had big dreams
But because he had a dream I am able to sit in a classroom
Because he had a dream I am able to vote
Because he had a dream I can choose my future
Because he had a dream I can walk through any room or door
Because he had a dream the world continues to learn
And because he had a dream we must keep dreaming too.
written by Ra'Nya Graham