Why? | Teen Ink

Why? MAG

By Anonymous

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.



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This article has 37 comments.


on Dec. 21 2017 at 6:35 pm
22mstaup PLATINUM, Bryan, Ohio
28 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Kind words are short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." -Mother Teresa

BEAUTIFUL work!!!! You are a great writer, please KEEP WRITING!!!!

on Jan. 30 2016 at 10:01 pm
Poetry101 BRONZE, Faith, South Dakota
3 articles 0 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
You don't need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are !













~John Lennon

This is the best one

on Sep. 27 2014 at 11:20 am
HafsaAhmed PLATINUM, Karachi, Other
22 articles 2 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
I don't believe in angry arguments , I believe in silent revenge.

Revenge doesn't merely means hurting others, it sometimes mean being a better person than you were yesterday.

simply outstanding!!

on Apr. 23 2014 at 7:23 pm
Rebel21 PLATINUM, St. Catharines, Other
20 articles 0 photos 73 comments

Favorite Quote:
Where there is desire, there is gonna be a flame,
Where there is a flame someone's bound to get burned.
Just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die,
You've got to get up and try.

Absolutely stunning poem  

on Jul. 6 2013 at 4:55 am
JulietTiernan BRONZE, M, Idaho
1 article 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Don’t pick a fight, but if you find yourself in one I suggest you make darn sure you win.” -John Wayne

Gorgeous poem. So Beautifully written

on Dec. 11 2012 at 12:42 pm
writergirly GOLD, Preston, Other
19 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have."
- Anonymous

This is really great! I love your use of figurative language; it really makes the poem more powerful and more meaningful. It's beautifully written. Well done!

on Jun. 14 2012 at 2:33 pm
Dreamgirl95 BRONZE, Sugarland, Texas
4 articles 0 photos 63 comments

Favorite Quote:
Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you.

This is so AMAZING! This is a great poem. Definitly keep writing!

on Feb. 18 2012 at 9:58 am
beautifulspirit PLATINUM, Alpharetta, Georgia
35 articles 0 photos 1398 comments

Favorite Quote:
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
--Eleanor Roosevelt

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.

on Feb. 4 2012 at 4:13 am
3mo_sw33ts SILVER, Gonzales, Louisiana
9 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing at all."

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!

FULLSTOP GOLD said...
on Nov. 23 2011 at 3:22 am
FULLSTOP GOLD, Skipton, North Yorkshire, Other
13 articles 7 photos 103 comments

Favorite Quote:
forever and ever and ever and ever will never be enough

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?

on Sep. 11 2011 at 10:33 am
xxtennis13xx SILVER, Clarkston, Michigan
9 articles 0 photos 25 comments
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! ♥

on Aug. 18 2011 at 8:42 pm
HateKnuckle SILVER, Peru, New York
9 articles 0 photos 96 comments
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.

on Aug. 8 2011 at 3:46 pm
MaggieClaude SILVER, Randolph, Massachusetts
9 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

i love it...good job.

on Jun. 30 2011 at 11:26 am
Antoinette16 GOLD, Ringgold, Georgia
12 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We could be a beautiful, miracle, unbelievable, instead of just invisible" Taylor Swift :)

this is incredible :D

Valerie said...
on 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!

on May. 10 2011 at 7:04 pm
AndySixxLover GOLD, Weatherford, Texas
12 articles 0 photos 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
These violent delights have violent ends and in there triumph die like fire and powder in witch their kiss consume

I love it it was amazing!! keep up the good work

on May. 4 2011 at 5:22 pm
jennee21_ann GOLD, Helper, Utah
17 articles 0 photos 568 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Don't gain the world and lose your soul....wisdom is better than silver or gold."

"You can always close a book, but you can never close the mind of a writer."

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 :))

on Apr. 17 2011 at 10:58 am
dorcha-aingeal GOLD, MPLS, Minnesota
14 articles 0 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The unexamined life is not worth living" (Socrates)

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. EMBRACE YOUR RACE. POWERFUL AND PROVACATIVE 

on Nov. 14 2010 at 6:36 pm
sabina22 BRONZE, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
1 article 0 photos 47 comments
This is so powerful, I absolutely LOVE it! You are extraordinarily creative in your metaphors and stanza structures! Congratulations on a job well done. =)

on Jul. 27 2010 at 9:44 am
Katarina Goitz, St. Clair Shores, Michigan
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
Your poem is very powerful and inspiring.  You are an excellent writer!