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Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Why Did You Make Me Black Lord?


Why Did You Make Me Black Lord ....
author: unknown

Lord ...
Why did you make me black?
Why did you make someone the world would hold back?
Black is the color of dirty clothes,
of grimy hands and feet...
Black is the color of darkness,
of tired beaten streets...

Why did you give me thick lips,
a broad nose and kinky hair?
Why did you create who receives the hated stare?

Black is the color of the bruised eye when someone gets hurt...
Black is the color of darkness,
black is the color of dirt.

Why is my bone structure so thick,
my hips and cheeks so high?
Why are my eyes brown,
and not the color of the sky?

Why do people think I'm useless?
How come I feel so used?
Why do people see my skin and think I should be abused?

Lord, I just don't understand...
What is it about my skin?
Why is it some people want to hate me and not know the person within?

Black is what people are "Labeled" when others want to keep them away...
Black is the color of shadows cast...
Black is the end of the day.

Lord you know my own people mistreat me,
and you know this just ain't right...
They don't like my hair, they don't like my skin, 
as they say I'm too dark or too light!

Lord, don't you think it's time to make a change?
Why don't you redo creation and make everyone the same?


GOD's Reply:

Why did I make you black?

Why did I make you black?

I made you in the color of coal from which beautiful diamonds are formed...
I made you in the color of oil,
the black gold which keeps people warm.

Your color is the same as the rich dark soil that grows the food you need...
Your color is the same as the black stallion and panther, 
Oh what majestic creatures indeed!

All colors of the heavenly rainbow can be found throughout every nation...
When all these colors are blended,
you become my greatest creation!

Your hair is the texture of lamb's wool,
such a beautiful creature is he...
I am the shepherd who watches them,
I will ALWAYS watch over thee!

You are the color of the midnight sky,
I put star glitter in your eyes...
There's a beautiful smile hidden behind your pain...
That's why your cheeks are so high!

You are the color of dark clouds from the hurricanes I create in September...
I made your lips so full and thick,
so when you kiss...they will remember!

Your stature is strong,
your bone structure thick to withstand the burden of time...
The reflection you see in the mirror,
that image that looks back...that is MINE!

So get off your knees,
look in the mirror and tell me what you see?
I didn't make you in the image of darkness...
I made you in the image of ME!

12 comments:

Kathy said...

The poem is amazing! My daughter is waiting for a referral of a baby from Ethiopia. I am going to keep this poem for the baby. It will be extremely useful in raising him/her to be proud of the way he/she was created by God.

Thank you very much.

hazel said...

This is beautiful.

VALARIE said...

Love it!

The Pistol Princess said...

I have never read a poem like this - it is wonderful! It is beautiful. Did you write it? If not, where did you get it? May I share it with my friends and family?

Tami said...

Kelli-

I did not write it, the author is unknown. It was sent to me however if you put the title on google you will find the poem. Enjoy!

kn said...

Tami-

Ugh. I really don't like this poem. I love the last part and wish it started with that. I guess the reason I don't like it is because the beginning seems to assume that the majority of people in the world are white and feel all of those things. When in fact that majority of the world is not white and I don't know about the majority of the white world but the majority of the white people in my circle don't.

But I do like that you posted it and I get to read the comments and find out I'm in the minority here.

Tami said...

Hey Kristine-

The poem isn't meant to focus on white, if you see it also talks about how blacks mistreat each other because of the color of their skin. As a black person, I can relate to this poem having felt many of the things in this poem yet I never really realized that I was created this way for a reason for a purpose...this poem simply says those things. Yes, there are some racial undertones but c'est la vie and we can't escape that. Therefore, the poem says, to me, no matter what you encounter (because you will) you are who you are for a reason, be strong, be proud.

kn said...

I think I do get that part. But being white and not having traveled that road, the as a black person road, I haven't developed the perspective to look at it the same way. My husband and I run into this when discussing my son. My husband has all this wisdom from all his personal internal growth that really didn't start for me until about 6 years ago when Quinn was born. Reading through the first part I just kept thinking "because you were made in the image of God." Also, the photo really brought up emotions in me too.

I am glad you posted it. One for the fact that others liked it and two because I don't have to like something to learn from it.

Tami said...

ok...very different perspectives, we learn from each other. But you absolutely don't have to like it. I'm glad you read it anyway. :-)

Jebena said...

I received this poem several years ago and I LOVE IT! I loved it so much that I decopaged (sp) it on a canvas frame that hangs in the bathroom hallway---as a force of wind to remind my family to look in the mirror each and everyday and affirm who they are as BEAUTIFUL BLACK Earthlings!

Thanks Tami!!!!

Bennett said...

I love this poem....Can I borrow it for my blog?

this is so nice!!!


I read this before I think it was during black Hx month


Celeste

Anonymous said...

95% the universe is black. Black matter and black force are holding the universe as it is. The centre of the sun is black. Black is the beginning and the end.

If you are talking about the human skin colour? The black skin is the most quality, beauty and healthy skin by far. 99% all living things including human have Bruin/dark eyes and black hair colour. Predators/killers such as Lions, Cheetahs, Tigers, Leopards, Wolves and the likes have other than bruin/dark eyes colour.

Anything bad about having black/brown skin, eyes and hair colour is not decided by nature but intentionally created by jealous individuals to escape from their natural defects such as with lack of the sun which is centre of the solar system.

Read about the Greek philosophers, writers, singers, politicians and the ordinary people emotional love and admiration about the Ethiopian women beauty 2000 years a go. The bad things about being black are created by western Europeans to colonise and enslave the Africans. They cannot colonise and enslave anyone while saying you are beautiful, wise, strong, better than me and the likes.