Me llaman negra
como si fuera un insulto
as I were cowering
from my blackness
hiding from my darkness
They call me negra
In an effort to enclose me
in silence
As if I was walking
in a montage of Jim Crow
regulated streets, afraid to be
exactly who I am
Me llaman negra
como si fuera un insulto
As I bought into the
“white is right” ideology
unaware that I can’t
take off my skin
The call me negra
to shame me
Into playing the shade game
what shade of black are you?
Me llaman negra
como si fuera un insulto
as if I didn’t know
exactly where my people come from
blood flows through my veins
in pulsating Atlantic ocean waves
direction descendent of the slave trade
They call me negra
As if to frighten me
into avoiding mirrors
and seeing browness
blanketing my body
Me llaman negra
como si fuera un insulto
a dagger meant to carve
my soul right out of my body
remove my essence
disconnect me from a hidden history
They call me negra
to remind me of my lack of beauty
those afraid to be
spending thousands of dollars
on rhinoplasty, skin lightening
blond hair weaves
The call me negra
como si fuera un insulto