'I'm not loud because I'm a Black woman, I'm loud because I have a lot to say and want my opinions to be heard. I'm not stubborn because of the color of my skin; I'm stubborn because my mom raised me to question everything. I'm not oblivious to these stereotypes but I refuse to feed into them'

Oneika Richardson, 'Black Women Stereotypes That Degrade the Woman Inside'*

I Am
(A poem inspired by Oneika Richardson's article)
I'm not my skin,
Miss Thang,
Your shortie,
Your son,
A criminal.
I'm not poor, but I'm not rich.
I'm not Lisa Leslie.
I'm not dirty.
I'm not stupid,
Because I know things and been through things that you may never know.
I stick out in a crowd-
So what I'm proud!
I'm not Beyonc', Ashanti, Jennifer Hudson, or Whitney Houston.
I don't talk about 'yo mama'.
I don't hang in the streets.
I don't have a baby daddy, and I never will.
I'm not a drug dealer, and I don't do them myself.
I'm not the ghettoes, the slums, or the hood
I'm loud and I'm proud!
I'm strong' and that's because I want to be.
I Am' Natasha.