"Black Without Apology" by Kimberly Douglas©

black. adjective.

meaning: of the very darkest color owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of white

synonyms include: dark, pitch black, jet black, blackish.

black. verb.

meaning: to make of something black, especially by the application of black polish

synonyms include: color, paint, dye, tint.

black. noun.

meaning: a member of a dark-skinned people, or any human group having dark-colored skin, especially one of African or Australian Aboriginal ancestry

synonyms include: ebony, person of color, ethnic, melanated and, me.

I am black.

whichever way you cut it, however you choose to use it,

what ever angle you look at it, I am black

like a plain order of your morning coffee in its purest form;

no milk, no sugar

depending on the way you ‘take me’ I may leave

a bitter taste in your mouth, a warmth in your chest, a smile on your face

I am black.

like the darkness of the night in which the stars shine their brightest

my skin sprouts a glisten far greater than any constellation

that could graze your mind

far brighter than your basic Orion or Big Dipper

there is beauty in my darkness

I am black.

like the keys of a piano that make a piece captivating

the keys that create pitch and variation

with a similar ability to excite, I am the crescendo

my body is the song and my hips create the tempo

I am a melody, a soundtrack, I am music to your ears

I am black.

so when you fail to call me what I am

you separate me from my beauty

you dim my stars, you water down my flavor;

I am the coffee, you added the creamer

I am the darkness, you turned on the lights

I am the music, you muted the volume

you try to change what I am, lighten what I am, bleach what I am

but I am black.

and you will call me what I am, by any means necessary

because my beauty lies within my blackness

written by Kimberly Douglas©

Personal favorite lines:

[the entire intro with the definition format]

"I am black. whichever way you cut it, however you choose to use it, what ever angle you look at it"

"depending on the way you ‘take me’ I may leave a bitter taste in your mouth, a warmth in your chest, a smile on your face;"

"with a similar ability to excite, I am the crescendo. my body is the song and my hips create the tempo; I am a melody, a soundtrack, I am music to your ears"

"you dim my stars, you water down my flavor; I am the coffee, you added the creamer, I am the darkness, you turned on the lights, I am the music, you muted the volume"

"and you will call me what I am, by any means necessary; because my beauty lies within my blackness."

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