Artwork by Nokwanda Themba

You’re a little black girl
and upon your head lies glorious kinks and curls.
Look at the glow in your brown skin,
but for some that might be considered a sin.
The Barbie dolls don’t look quite like you.
The Disney Princesses don’t look quite like you,
And for a moment, you start to question your own beauty.
For a moment, you feel that you are not worthy,
and you can’t see that they don’t see the beauty in your melanin.
But as of today you will tell yourself the following:
My black is beautiful.
My black is enough.
I am beautiful.
I am enough.