What Makes Black Beautiful?: A Spoken Word Piece
Written by Kayla Harris
What makes Black beautiful?
Everything.
My blackness can be found in using and understanding all the little inside phrases that only my people would understand…
It’s the culture.
It’s the expression.
It’s the shades.
It’s the melanin.
It’s the resilience in the face of adversity.
It’s old songs and new ones.
It’s generations.
It’s things that can be explained but never truly felt unless you exist within it.
How do I celebrate Blackness and femininity?
By existing.
In being who I am.
My blackness can be found in using and understanding all the little inside phrases that only my people would understand…
“Who all gone be there”
“Who made the potato salad”
It’s also in how I bounce back.
My femininity can be found in me not being afraid of it.
Even if it looks like flats or sneakers over heels.
Choosing to wear dresses or wear a pantsuit.
It’s realizing my empathy.
My nurturing.
My tending.
These are the important things.
Why do I love being a woman and a Black woman at that?
It’s who I am.
It may not look like everyone else.
It may not sound like everyone else.
But it’s uniquely,
Fearfully,
And wonderfully…
Me.
Related Articles
Practicing Loving-Kindness & Body-Image Resilience
Most of us seek a healthy relationship with our body image—embracing the interconnectedness of heart, mind, body, and spirit. And as a society, we are witnessing more and more stories on cultivating body image resiliency: In psychology, fashion, and even via...
My “Not-So” Ordinary Skin-Care Routine
Since I was thirteen years old, I have been wearing mascara to hide my blonde eyelashes and foundation to cover up my pink, acne-prone skin. Through my 20s, I exhausted every over-the-counter cleanser, lotion, and foundation to try to find the perfect combination that...
Your Guide to Picking the Best Spring 2022 Nail Colors
Spring is here and that means it’s time to break out your favorite dresses, tank tops, and, of course, sandals. Many of us don’t bother painting our toenails during the winter months. However, once the weather starts warming up we get excited to get our friends...
