Am I Really Not African Enough? Poem by Noble Neruda

Am I really not african enough?

They say that I am not african enough because I speak the white man's language
They say I am not african enough because I took afrikaans at school as my 2nd learning language
They say I am not african enough because I hang my pants low
So that my butt cheeks do show
They say I am not african enough because I question their practice out of curiosity
Just because my mind is not filled with mediocrity
They say I am not african enough because my skirt does not touch my knees
Because I don't listen to umbaqanga to put my mind at ease
But then they forget…
That these knees that do show have touched the ground to clean marks of dirty soles
and prayed for broken souls
They forget that these hands have touched cow dung and masked the cracked floor
Hiding all its flaws
They forget that I can sing my clan name in a voice filled with pride
Maybe to the ear not kind
But to my ancestors it is all right
They forget how I preach to my peers that being african is not a title but a blessing
And how every written scripture has a lesson
They forget the love I give out warmly to my brothers and sisters
Even to those that have walked from miles away and are now full of blisters
They forget the respect I give to my elders all because of the values instilled in me
Because I am that woman my mother raised me up to be
Am I still not african enough?