I’m going to be Black and happy
African American and happy
Negro.
A woman of color—
Brown, full of melanin
a futuristic hero.
Same as a poet.
I’ll be that and happy.
I’ll bring myself joy,
put it on my lips
put it in arms reach
on the tip of my fingertips
this is my American Dream.
I am an American
born here, going to live and die here
happy
written in pride
written by poetic hands
hands that took a chance to make a statement,
to be something different,
to be bold,
to walk through fire
and enjoy every minute of it.
I am going to be Black, blessed,
Black, brilliant,
Black, bold
Black, brightly colored-coded combination,
Black will be the new color of the rainbow
warmly kissed by the sun.
Dipped in chocolate,
a heavenly, decadent treat
Any time the word Black, Colored, African American, Futuristic hero
same thing as a poet is used
I’ll be happy
I’ll see it as a gift,
A good thing,
not a curse,
not anything to despise
not anything that needs to
be explained.
It'll be understood
that what God made was beyond good—
I’m Black and Happy.
Photo by Anna Shvets