Georgette Littlejohn
What is it about my skin
That doesn’t allow you to want to come into my heart and truly become a friend
If you don’t understand the complexity of
Why my skin has a darker hue and
Why you shouldn’t be afraid when you see a few of us walk in…
Ask Us/Me
What is it about my hair
I’m glad you’re curious
Cuz it’s so luxurious
But let me make it clear
It’s not cool to stare and then you dare
To ask, can I touch it
It’s not the ask that cause concern
It’s when you alone
Take it upon yourself
To go all Al Capone
And put your hand in my hair without a care
Trust me, we want you to ask what you don’t understand
But let’s remember the golden rule
Ask equals response
Please don’t take it upon
Yourself to respond and run your fingers through my hair without a care
It makes me cringe
This is my crown
And I know it confuses you
That it can be long today and short tomorrow
I know it keeps you baffled
But please, please, be tactful
And wait for me to say it’s okay
Before you just touch away
This life brings many twists and turns
Searching for where we truly belong
Fighting for acceptance sometimes by our own family and friends
And then fighting in a world that refuses to embrace us just based on our skin
I won’t apologize for the melanin
Which protects my skin
But I will continue to be the light
To shine from within
Standing on God’s command to love my enemies and friends
You chose today which one you want to be
Please don’t smile in my face
But walk away in disgrace because
I hurt like you hurt
I bleed like you bleed
So, it’s no need to pretend
That you want to befriend me
When you haven’t truly got to know me
Again, ask us/me
But in the end, I still call you friend
Because God commands that of me
But don’t be surprised that if down in your family tree you have family that looks like me
Honestly, we are all one race
Human that is
Trying to find our space
In this thing called life
That moves at a face pace
Praying to leave a trace
So, our loved ones will remember our face when we leave this place
So do us a favor
As we continue to give you grace and respect you as a human race not based on the color of your skin
But who you are as a person within
If you don’t know but truly want to
Ask your questions
Then give us grace and space to answer
Leaving a trace of ourselves
So, you can face
Us as a human race!
gcl 2025