An Ode to the Black Man

This is for the Black Man in America and abroad. This is my love letter to you, In the midst of the hatred you receive from outsiders and people who look exactly like you, and stereotypical media portrayals that leave you looking more like the devil incarnate than the divine gift I know you to be. I love you for sooo many reasons, and just in case you've never been told before, allow me to tell you why.

I am nothing without you, my life dependant upon your spirit mixed with my mother's, you are my father and the father of civilizations. Your hands have built cities and caressed your children.

You are humanity's diamond, hard, strong, and beautiful. The centuries of struggle have transformed you into a specimen quite like no other. Diamonds are girl's best friend and you, my brotha, are my light; resilient, radiant, luminous. Your spirit, heart, and soul blings; the gold teeth and chains are unnecessary. Your smile is the moon's glow, always with me in my darkest hour. There's a fire in your eyes burning with the promise of revolution. You are Martin, Malcolm, Marcus, Mandela!

Don't be fooled by history books which describe you in terms of prison numbers, and limit your potential to that of a hoodlum, addict, dead beat or criminal. You belong not in the ghetto but at the top of the world,take your place! Anything less is beneath you. And I know life has thrown you some powerful blows but you have overcome them with the determination of a King. You can do anything, Genocide,War slavery, middle passages, racism, Apartheid,Colonialism, disease, and poverty have all fallen on your shoulders, no weapon formed against you has ever prospered and never will.

I love everything about you, your creativity makes you a masterpiece money can't buy, Auction blocks underated your abilities; and although popular culture either steals your artforms or deem them dead, your skills are incredible. You are the epitome of perseverance and the reflection of the power of God. I salute you, I adore you, I love you! Be encouraged black brotha.

Are You Sexy

Today I looked in the mirror and saw sexy despite my stained t-shirt, dingy sweat pants and dusty Nikes. I saw sexy in my extra large lips (a gift from my ancestors), thick and loc'd, hair and uneven complexion. I realized the journey that brought me to that point, a journey I continue to travel on wasand is a tough one. See girls that look like me are often dwell in the shadows of what pop culture deems sexy.

In American Culture, we have personafied sexy, and given her an identity, Sexy has fair skin and long silky hair. Her face perfect 24/7, her body, thin, and fragile except for her huge breasts. Sexy has a porno tape, she's a video vixen, she's provocative,promiscuous, she's a sexual servant to men. And even if she says no, she's thinking yes.

I am not sexy. My waist, extra large with pertruding hips and a big back side. My hair, extra kinky and loc'd, nothing close to silky. My complexion, sawdust brown not milky white. I am the total opposite of this sexy chick. If we define sexy this way, then sexy excludes a large population of Woman. Should I conform to this standard, get on Jenny Craig, chop off my dreds, perm my hair and make a sex tape? Not a big deal. I mean I must be the problem right? Maybe, or maybe the definition of sexy is all wrong!

Why does sexy have to be submissive, and represented only by physical features? Why can't sexy be intelligent or kind or talented? Who the hell is the Author of sexy? I can imagine the bastard to be some selfish perverted and stupid man. He probably believes that forced sexual acts on women isn't rape but what women want when they look sexy. He's probably the same man who came up with bitch, and ho, and nigger.

Well I am bringing sexy back! The new and improved definition of sexy is you, and me, and every woman with a beautiful soul. Sexy is intelligence, and grace, and courage. Sexy is imperfections and flaws, and growth. Sexy is like snowflakes, there are so many versions and no two are the same. Sexy does not require anorexia, bulemia, or botox. sexy only requires you to be yourself.

On the quest to find sexy, through mountains and valleys I finally found her, she was quirky and crazy and passionate about people and she loves hard. She gives blood and really thinks she can change the world. She sings in the shower,has a messy room, has dreds down her back, and wears size 16. She once thought she wasn't good enough and was too embarassed to look in the mirror, but she is fierce. When I found her, I said "damn she's sexy!" That woman is me!

I know sometimes its hard to look in the mirror and love what you see. I"ve also played hide and seek with myself, hoping to find someone new but having to settle with me. But then I realized that who I am surpasses the expectations of the so call "sexy". The next time you look in that mirror, don't compare yourself to someone else, fall in love with the view and take it for what it is, a creation of a perfect God who doesn't make mistakes. It makes me feel good to know that I am a one of a kind masterpiece made by a higher and pefect power. Mona Lisa doesn't have anything on this piece of art. Smile, you are beautiful and you are sexy!