Nubian Queen

Nubian Queen

I have finally learnt to see

The true beauty

That lies within me

That as a child

I was never told

Or encouraged to see

I grew up in a place

Where there were few

Other faces that looked

The same colour as mine

That’s what made me

And my kin

So easy to identify

That’s the only thing

That separated ‘my kind’

 

At school

I was still alone

The only black face

Amongst my peers

I soon understood

Facing my enemies

Showed I had no fear

I learned

What I was taught

Science, English

Religion and Chemistry

But none of these

Sang praises

For people just like me

No teachers spoke

Of my history

Except from the days

Of capture and slavery

So how was I to learn

Of my ancestry?

To take it from ‘Roots’?

The enslaved ‘Kunta Kinte’?

From ‘Love thy neighbour’

And other racist tv?

For a black person

It was all negativity

 

Maybe

That’s why I stopped

Seeing my colour

And just saw

The person instead

Because that to me

Was far more important

In my head

If they were going to

Make a point

Of how they see me

Let it be for reasons

Other than the colour

Of my skin

For instance…

The way I dress

Or the entrance I make

For the way I speak

Or the company I keep

Because no matter

What my hue

There is white blood

Mixed in there too

 

So, my life may have gone

In different directions

Due to my folks

Wanting much more

And using their discretion

When choosing a

Suitable living location

They made the most

Of what they had

To give us opportunities

But it also meant

We didn’t get to feel

How bad being black

At that time

Could really be

 

And now I’ve grown

Into the person I be

Only just opening my eyes

To my real identity

I never gave credit

To the ‘black’ side of me

But, it is not just

The colour of my skin

It’s the blood and

It’s history of pain

That flows deep red

Through my veins

That gives me strength

And the power

To stand and be tall

That makes me bold

And wants to be heard

To speak my mind

And to write my words

It is an inherent part of me

Because I know deep down

That all ‘black’ women

Can still be Nubian Queens

 

Sharon Carter-Wray

(Weds 20^th November 2019)