The Colour Of My Skin Poem by Qiniso Mogale

The European says I'm a black man
The American says I'm a black man
The Asian says I'm a black man
The Indian says I'm a black man
All because of the colour of my skin.

I'm characterised by the colour of my skin
I'm described by the colour of my skin
I'm defined by the colour of my skin.

For centuries my ancestors were enslaved
For centuries my ancestors were treated as property
All because of the colour of our skin
The Africans were ridiculed
The Africans were shamed
Our land was stolen but it was claimed that it had been discovered
This is because of the colour of our skin.

The Bible was abused
It was claimed that God had cursed the black man
Because of the alleged curse African sisters are bleaching their skin
My sisters are ashamed of the black skin
My fellow sisters are buying Brazilian hair
They are ashamed of their African hair
Many have undergone plastic surgery
For they are ashamed of the black skin.

I am an African
I am a black man
I am proud of my African heritage
I am proud of my black skin