Not a Costume

Black and shy. Born and raised In white suburbia is where I spent most of my days. When I was picked on for my size, my hair and my thighs And people assumed I was stupid... That's no surprise. My momma brought me into this world- wanted the best for me While the media's standards of beauty ripped me apart you see. They asked me if my hair was real

Because it looked and felt way too nice

They asked if I was mixed with something else that wasn’t “black”

And they didn’t hesitate to ask me twice

They said I sounded mature

Very proper for my age

As if they thought I’d be slurring my sentences

And using every slang word in rage. But that was then...

And this is now They still tear me apart-

wanna know how? Ripping my lips off my face, and were it as their own.

Used to call me ‘burnt toast’ but now tan their skin my tone.

Thicken their thighs and hips cuz my body’s a new trend

Saying that other girl “looks fat” but say it “works” me cuz I’m their friend

The more they talk, the deeper they dig Cuz next they’re cutting off my hair and wearing it as their wig

It’s almost as if you can’t see my soul in my body

Cuz my body is all you see

You don’t even acknowledge the person hurting inside of me

It’s almost as if you extracted me from my body

And pulled on my skin as if it were a purchased onesie

Stepped into my feet like combat boots, pulled up my legs like your tights It's almost as if you just took my soul from my body. Pulled on my skin as if it's been one of your purchased onesies Stepped into my skin like the combat boots you have stored in your closet full of TNAs and garage sweaters. Popped my shoulders like the collar of your white golf shirt Adjusted my hips on you like your favourite urban behaviour jeans. But when we state black lives matter some of y'all ask "what's that supposed to me" And at the end of the day, once you're bored and you're done playing dress-up...

You unzip yourself out and hang me in your closet like a fur mink coat and smile in the mirror while you rock your privilege for the world. To show that it was just a style, a trend, a costume. Putting a pause on that phase till you're ready to press resume. I am human. I am flesh, skin and bone.

I have emotions. I have rights. I have a family to call my own.

I have freedoms. I eat, I sleep, I breathe. I walk, I talk, I'm solid-

But yet why can't you see.

If you don't change your mindset, you'll forever be doomed ...

cuz I am not a style, I am not a trend and I am not your costume.