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Why? This work has been published in the Teen Ink monthly print magazine.

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Why must you despise me –
Is it because my skin has been kissed by the sun’s rays?
Are my roots too deep for you,
Or is it my will to find a brighter day?

Why must you look at me with different eyes,
Is it because I stand tall?
My river flows jubilantly with life,
I am Africa, after all.

Why must you hate me,
Is it because my hips are wide like mountains?
My bone structure is thick,
And my love flows like fountains?

Why must you call me names,
And try to deteriorate my race?
Do you really think that it’s that easy
To put me in my place?

When will you realize
That I am proud to be black?
You have never held me down,
And you will never hold me back.

This work has been published in the Teen Ink monthly print magazine. This piece has been published in Teen Ink’s monthly print magazine.




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This article has 30 comments. Post your own!

beautifulspiritThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Feb. 18 at 9:58 am:
Great poem! Race plays a role in our lives, whether we like it or not. This poem had good rhythm and the title caught my attention immediately.
 
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3mo_sw33tsThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Feb. 4 at 4:13 am:
I have to agree with FULLSTOP It is an important issue and many are held down by it......but truely I think this is one of the most inspiring poems on this subject I have ever read!!! I love it...adn if you dont,,then your INSANE!
 
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FULLSTOPThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Nov. 23, 2011 at 3:22 am:
i am white, but i think racism is a very important issue and that you did well to address this in your poem. well done! please can you check out some of my work?
 
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xxtennis13xxThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Sept. 11, 2011 at 10:33 am:
I love the message you put out! Racial issues are still such a problem in today's society, and I love how you described yourself in such a beautiful, uplifting way. This is very inspiring, don't ever let racists get you down! ♥
 
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HateKnuckleThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Aug. 18, 2011 at 8:42 pm:
VERY descriptive and strong. I'm not too partial to political messages but in essence it is personal so its good but telling myself that is difficult. I'll give it 5 stars but I have to look past my bias.
 
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maggie2kute4u said...
Aug. 8, 2011 at 3:46 pm:
i love it...good job.
 
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Antoinette16This teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Jun. 30, 2011 at 11:26 am:
this is incredible :D
 
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madbunnymoniqueThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
May 10, 2011 at 7:04 pm:
I love it it was amazing!! keep up the good work
 
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dreamer_believerThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
May 4, 2011 at 5:22 pm:
this is great! really imaginatlive, yet really realistic :) ha and i love your rhythm in this poem! would you mind commenting on some of my newer stuff? i love your writing, so please keep it up! this is a great piece :))
 
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dorcha-aingealThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Apr. 17, 2011 at 10:58 am:
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. EMBRACE YOUR RACE. POWERFUL AND PROVACATIVE 
 
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sabina22 said...
Nov. 14, 2010 at 6:36 pm:
This is so powerful, I absolutely LOVE it! You are extraordinarily creative in your metaphors and stanza structures! Congratulations on a job well done. =)
 
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Katarina G. said...
Jul. 27, 2010 at 9:44 am:
Your poem is very powerful and inspiring.  You are an excellent writer!
 
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HitTheSkyline said...
May 25, 2010 at 4:36 pm:

The poem is bright!
I'm mixed among races.

I'm black and white.

 
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cookiemonsterr[; said...
Apr. 8, 2010 at 7:57 pm:
I really enjoyed this piece. the last line really shows us just now passionate You're about your topic.it all really speaks to me. thanks for writing it. I absolutely LOVED it! amazing job!
 
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CountryGothicThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Mar. 29, 2010 at 11:30 am:
I love the poem and therefore have given it 5, but I have a question-What is the story behind the picture you have with it?  I'm just curious.
 
Valerie replied...
Jun. 30, 2011 at 8:41 am :
Actually, I think most of the time this site sticks random art and pics on stuff. BTW, great poem! I love the last line!
 
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tishaThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Oct. 14, 2009 at 10:14 pm:
this poem speaks to me but the last stanza shouts!
brilliant.
 
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This work has been published in the Teen Ink monthly print magazine. said...
Oct. 14, 2009 at 4:46 pm:
Amazing! It is a great look at racism. I like the line "I am Africa, after all." It's a beautiful poem.
 
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cross-i'd-leopard said...
May 3, 2009 at 3:40 pm:
that was awesome and powerful. very good message. Loved it!
 
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<3::wish4wings::<3 This work has been published in the Teen Ink monthly print magazine. said...
Mar. 19, 2009 at 12:56 pm:
i love this!! its so amazing
..it came from the heart..and im with you:)
 
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The Violist said...
Feb. 13, 2009 at 8:11 pm:
This is amazing, you have a right to be upset and stand up for yourself!
 
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moniquecheer said...
Dec. 16, 2008 at 10:09 pm:
i loved how you compared your hips with mountains. this poem is amazing and true. <33
 
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savetheearth1031 said...
Sept. 19, 2008 at 4:13 am:
absolutely beautiful. breathtaking. keep up the incredible work!
 
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Bee71302 said...
Aug. 31, 2008 at 3:17 am:
OMG!!!!!!!!! THIS IS A REALLY GREAT POEM! I LOVE IT!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!
 
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CaptainO said...
Aug. 30, 2008 at 10:38 pm:
This is a great portrayal of prejudices and racism in the world. The emotion is clear and your word choice and phrases are well thought out, but the third stanza's rhyming didn't "click" like the rest of the stanzas' did. I suppose there isn't a whole lot to rhyme with "mountains", or maybe it's just the number of syllables in each line. It could be that. But other than that, I think you did an outstanding job of addressing such an age-old issue. Keep it up! :D
 
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Tweedle Dee said...
Aug. 30, 2008 at 4:05 pm:
you go girl! this poem is sooo awesome!!! love that attitude!
 
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RMD said...
Aug. 30, 2008 at 7:15 am:
"Why must you hate me,
Is it because my hips are wide like mountains?
My bone structure is thick,
And my love flows like fountains?"
I feel you should have made this one question instead of two because the second question is not really a separate question. I would put a comma in place of the first question mark and leave the second question mark as it is. But other than that, I really liked the message of the poem.
 
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harry_potter_freak said...
Aug. 23, 2008 at 5:45 pm:
so true... so true...
 
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soxrox said...
Aug. 22, 2008 at 9:25 pm:
i love it!!!!!
 
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leisha101 said...
Aug. 17, 2008 at 3:10 am:
i love this poem.!!!!!!I KNOW THATS RIGHT KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GIRL
 
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