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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Poems & Songs
- Published: 06/05/2020
I Am Not Black and Bad
Born 1990, M, from Lagos, NigeriaI am who I am, but some people call me black.
They don’t just call me black, they also say I’m dirty and dark
I do what others do; and I could even visit gutters in search of food
When I do so, they call me a fool...
They know me by dirty rags, and they also give me negative tags
They say I am black and bad
One thing I do know is that, forward ever I must go,
Least I fall prey to oblivion’s blow,
Least I retard nor be deterred
With the saying that “I am black and bad”
Yes! It is only my skin, it is certainly not an ill.
Imagine an eternity where the sun remains still
there will be neither rainbow, snow, nor colorful dark shadows
only a static season as white and warm as the tears of grieving bedfellows
Now, imagine that everything is white without a touch of black
Yes, I am black, but my heart is surely not so dark
Black is aesthetics and pulchritude, and not mediocrity or being whack.
Black is elastic in magnitude, black is deeper than the highest altitude
My abilities are limitless, my agility goes beyond irritability
I have endured what the sun could not
I have toured the world’s coast, sold, and bought
I have been accused of treason in cold and cuffs
I have yet enjoyed what the rest of the world have not
I have the best times, seasons, food, wine and snuffs.
If you say I am black and bad, would you say you are white and bright?
If you hate me or want me slayed, remember only black turns white to gray.
If you do know times and seasons, that’s why there is black and white
If you do not serve my god, don’t you say I don’t know how to pray
I need white, orange, red and yellow
I won’t say because they call me “the black bad fellow”
I would see them, ignore them, pass without saying hello
I would only justify their assertion that I am a very bad fellow
I Am Not Black and Bad(Darlington Chukwunyere)
I am who I am, but some people call me black.
They don’t just call me black, they also say I’m dirty and dark
I do what others do; and I could even visit gutters in search of food
When I do so, they call me a fool...
They know me by dirty rags, and they also give me negative tags
They say I am black and bad
One thing I do know is that, forward ever I must go,
Least I fall prey to oblivion’s blow,
Least I retard nor be deterred
With the saying that “I am black and bad”
Yes! It is only my skin, it is certainly not an ill.
Imagine an eternity where the sun remains still
there will be neither rainbow, snow, nor colorful dark shadows
only a static season as white and warm as the tears of grieving bedfellows
Now, imagine that everything is white without a touch of black
Yes, I am black, but my heart is surely not so dark
Black is aesthetics and pulchritude, and not mediocrity or being whack.
Black is elastic in magnitude, black is deeper than the highest altitude
My abilities are limitless, my agility goes beyond irritability
I have endured what the sun could not
I have toured the world’s coast, sold, and bought
I have been accused of treason in cold and cuffs
I have yet enjoyed what the rest of the world have not
I have the best times, seasons, food, wine and snuffs.
If you say I am black and bad, would you say you are white and bright?
If you hate me or want me slayed, remember only black turns white to gray.
If you do know times and seasons, that’s why there is black and white
If you do not serve my god, don’t you say I don’t know how to pray
I need white, orange, red and yellow
I won’t say because they call me “the black bad fellow”
I would see them, ignore them, pass without saying hello
I would only justify their assertion that I am a very bad fellow
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Gordon England
06/09/2020outstanding story that most white people can't conceive of. Therefore they are afraid of you and belittle you to make themselves feel superior. What a mess
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Gordon England
06/10/2020That was meant to be a support comment. I hope these protests bring about positive changes for minority issues.
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Darlington Chukwunyere
06/09/2020Thank you so much, Gordon.
Thanks for lending your support, thanks for reading, and thanks for your kind feedback.
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Jason James Parker
06/09/2020Excellent piece, Darlington. A very deep and poignant message delivered with style and elegance. I really love your use of classical language fused with modern parlance--it hits the reader with both the history and the modernity of the subject. This is an epic verse and congratulations on Story of the Week--very well deserved! : )
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Darlington Chukwunyere
06/09/2020Thanks Jason. Thanks for always being an inspiration. Thanks again.
(Smiles)
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Darlington Chukwunyere
06/08/2020I agree with you, Andrew. No one has the rights to judge anyone based on the colour of skin.
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Dante Imosun
06/07/2020Story of my life...
Darlington, your voice is loud enough.
I'm so emotional right now.
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Darlington Chukwunyere
06/08/2020Dante,
I hope you feel better now?
Pls don't feel bad. You could join words too, maybe together, we would drive the plague away and make this world a lovlier place to live in.
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Will Neill
06/06/2020I feel sorry for those who cannot see beyond the color of someone skin and not see the person, and the talent within. It is their loss, but hate is blind as well as ignorant. Well done Darlington great poem. Will
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Darlington Chukwunyere
06/06/2020Thank you so much, Will.
At times I get depressed trying to contain the emotions associated with such undeserved treatments... I often wonder for how long it would continue. But then I don't support the idea of fighting back or reciprocating the gesture in any negative way. I just wish the world would rid itself of racism.
Thanks for reading, Will.
(Smiles)
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Dozie emmanuel
06/05/2020This issue of racism can never be over emphasized.
I really wish to wake up one day and hear that humans of all colours can coexist without boundries (either direct or indirect).
Let love and peace lead.
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Darlington Chukwunyere
06/05/2020I pray for love and unity. I'm fed up with racism and xenophobic behaviours. I'm sure deep down everyone, there's an untapped love waiting to be explored.
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JD
06/05/2020Darlington, I'm really sorry that you feel that anyone sees you, or any other black person, as in any way 'bad' just because of your skin color. I cannot imagine how that feels. Which makes me unqualified to really understand or comment on what you have written. I personally would never look at someone and judge them to be bad based on their skin color. But I do judge people too quickly as possibly 'bad' for other reasons, no matter what 'color' they are. IE If someone has a mean looking scowl on their face and is covered with nasty tattoos, like skulls and demons, I would think them 'bad' and want to stay as far away from them as possible. I would think the same thing of a woman in high heel pumps with a tight short skirt and low cut top with obviously inflated lips and boobs and doused in perfume and jewelry. I would want to stay as far away from her as possible too, and I definitely would not be thinking good things about her as my first impression. Especially if she appeared wealthy and privileged. So, I know we do make snap judgements of people, in general, all of us do, but since I would never judge anyone 'bad' because of their skin color it is hard for me to relate to your story or think of it as 'true'. But, like I said, I am not qualified to judge it.
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JD
06/05/2020I'm so sorry that you've had the experiences you describe, Darlington. Of course any time racism rears its ugly head it gives me a 'negative vibe', but that is because, to me, racism is unacceptable, and I cannot fathom why it still exists in this world. It causes me pain to even think about it. But I am sure it causes you much more pain, as evidenced by the racist attitudes you have encountered. I share your wish that racism will be truly abolished one day. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Thank you again for sharing your story, Darlington.
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Darlington Chukwunyere
06/05/2020Hi Jd,
I have personally had my own share of heartbreaking racist abuse in many ways, either live or on social media.
For instance, a certain American editor read my manuscript "blindly" and fell inlove with it, but upon finding that I am black, he totally edited the review to the opposite of his initial verdict, condemning everything to the point that the chief editor had to scold him or his obvious racist behaviour, and apologised on his behalf.
While I worked for the USAID as a social developement officer in 2016 & 17, I had series of ugly one-on-one experiences with some foreign partners that actually inspired this poem.
Like the poem says, I do not judge anyone for judging me by my skin colour because I know it's just a few bad eggs that makes the whole box smell of rotten eggs.
Concerning this post, something happened two days ago that inspired me to publish this poem.
I'm so sorry of it gave you any negative vibe. Wasn't my intention.
I'm very optimistic that this issue of racism would be contained and trully abolished someday.
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