Last night we read poems and essays about beauty in the book edited by Iris Jacob called, My Sister's Voices: Teenage Girls of Color Speak Out. The girls wrote poems in response.
Standards of Beauty
by Natalie Branch
I’m that girl who never fits in.
I’m not fat nor am I thin.
I’m an African American with light skin.
When I walk out the house, I’m full of curiosity—
Not knowing what others will think of me.
Some may be jealous, others furious.
Me, I’m just curious.
My confidence isn’t low; it’s not high either.
My emotions are building up—like a deadly fever.
People like me because of who I am.
People hate me because I’m not like them.
Sometimes I ask myself: should I stay the same, or become someone else?
That’s something you will never again hear me say.
People say change, but I stay the same.
I am me, and I was born this way.
And this is how I will stay.
Yo! I’m sayin’!
by Deanna Branch
Q: Why you wear yo’ hair like that?
Yo! I’m sayin,
My hairstyle reflects my personality.
When I’m feeling creative, I braid the freshest designs.
When I feel bold, I change up my color.
And when I don’t want to be bothered,
I sweep bangs in my face!
Q: What’s up wit the grandma gear?
Yo! I’m sayin,
My style is sophisticated, sexy, and sleek.
I make trashy look classy and childish look mature.
Yo grandma gear ain’t got nothing on me.
Q: Yo! Tell me what ‘s up with the tight lookin pants?
Yo! I’m sayin,
Ain’t no shame in my game.
I love my hip hugging jeans
and so what if my butt sticks out from my jeans?
Those who don’t like it are allowed to kiss it.
Yo! I’m sayin.
Ghetto
by Elisha Branch
I don’t know what’s a cello
and I listen to a song called Ella
and they want to call me ghetto.
I eat cereal outside
watching people beg for a ride
and they want to call me ghetto.
My favorite food is tacos
and I have friends called pacos
and they want to call me ghetto.
I go to church in my everyday clothes
and our house door is never closed
and they want to call me ghetto.
We praise in the same place
and we all say grace
and they want to call me ghetto.
Get besty with me
and I’m a get besty with you
and you can keep on calling me ghetto.
by Natalie Branch
I’m that girl who never fits in.
I’m not fat nor am I thin.
I’m an African American with light skin.
When I walk out the house, I’m full of curiosity—
Not knowing what others will think of me.
Some may be jealous, others furious.
Me, I’m just curious.
My confidence isn’t low; it’s not high either.
My emotions are building up—like a deadly fever.
People like me because of who I am.
People hate me because I’m not like them.
Sometimes I ask myself: should I stay the same, or become someone else?
That’s something you will never again hear me say.
People say change, but I stay the same.
I am me, and I was born this way.
And this is how I will stay.
Yo! I’m sayin’!
by Deanna Branch
Q: Why you wear yo’ hair like that?
Yo! I’m sayin,
My hairstyle reflects my personality.
When I’m feeling creative, I braid the freshest designs.
When I feel bold, I change up my color.
And when I don’t want to be bothered,
I sweep bangs in my face!
Q: What’s up wit the grandma gear?
Yo! I’m sayin,
My style is sophisticated, sexy, and sleek.
I make trashy look classy and childish look mature.
Yo grandma gear ain’t got nothing on me.
Q: Yo! Tell me what ‘s up with the tight lookin pants?
Yo! I’m sayin,
Ain’t no shame in my game.
I love my hip hugging jeans
and so what if my butt sticks out from my jeans?
Those who don’t like it are allowed to kiss it.
Yo! I’m sayin.
Ghetto
by Elisha Branch
I don’t know what’s a cello
and I listen to a song called Ella
and they want to call me ghetto.
I eat cereal outside
watching people beg for a ride
and they want to call me ghetto.
My favorite food is tacos
and I have friends called pacos
and they want to call me ghetto.
I go to church in my everyday clothes
and our house door is never closed
and they want to call me ghetto.
We praise in the same place
and we all say grace
and they want to call me ghetto.
Get besty with me
and I’m a get besty with you
and you can keep on calling me ghetto.
My Body
by Brittene Harden
They talk about my
hips my thighs my
cute brown eyes.
But in the day-glow
which they will never
know how I flow.
I might be fat, ugly
and sloppy, but you
will never stop me.
One them days when
you talk and laugh about
me that means the only
thing is, is that I’m free.
See you have no
life that why you hurt
others. When in Christ
we are your sister
and your brother.
I never had a person
who hurt me like
you and there’s no
one who will see
me through.
You don’t have to be skinny or white
as snow, but how
I look while here
I go.
I’m thick in the
waist, ten in the
foot 38C on top
and my pride will never drop you
dig.
My Body
by Maya Montgomery
I may be tall and skinny
And I love the mouse named Minnie,
Say nothing to my small feet.
But I will be in that love seat.
by Brittene Harden
They talk about my
hips my thighs my
cute brown eyes.
But in the day-glow
which they will never
know how I flow.
I might be fat, ugly
and sloppy, but you
will never stop me.
One them days when
you talk and laugh about
me that means the only
thing is, is that I’m free.
See you have no
life that why you hurt
others. When in Christ
we are your sister
and your brother.
I never had a person
who hurt me like
you and there’s no
one who will see
me through.
You don’t have to be skinny or white
as snow, but how
I look while here
I go.
I’m thick in the
waist, ten in the
foot 38C on top
and my pride will never drop you
dig.
My Body
by Maya Montgomery
I may be tall and skinny
And I love the mouse named Minnie,
Say nothing to my small feet.
But I will be in that love seat.
Comments