Truly Black

In honor of Black History Month, a poem, circa 1995

I am truly black with
bright colors on,
showy,
loud and
raucous;
passionate to extreme.
Seething,
ecstatic,
joyous.
Stereotype me with your blindness
while the sun loves my skin.

One of me can defend honor
or strike terror
at a whim;
conquer bondage,
build a country
with my back;
never see my home
and prosper,
protect my children
with fierceness,
love until the dawn,
sing,
and carry on.