My Inner Me

Little Black Girl

Once upon a time

There was a little black girl

Christian expectations were expected all the time

From this little black girl

Wanting to enjoy life as it came every day in the Mississippi

Growing up into a young lady, it's about that time

She's no longer a little black girl

What do I do? Listen to the elders. Be dutiful in my position as a young black girl.

What about what I want?

The elders and church folk say NO

What about love?

The elders and church folk say NO

What about the parties, the football games, the lounges?

The elders and church folk screamed OH NO

I'm still a little black girl and a young black woman

I need to find my way in the world, live in this thing we call life

I have to learn

I went out there and I saw and I witnessed

I went to the elders and church folk

The elders shamed me

The church folk laughed at me

That's when I learned to be a young black woman

You are only saved if they are satisfied

Constantly under ridicule only wanting to hide

They are not for you if they cannot control you

'But this body was given to me' I say

'I'm not yours to put into chains' I say

'I'm only me' I say

'I'm not sorry for your negativity' I say

If the folks are happy with you, as long as they can control this little black girl

Years later in this once upon a time

I become a black woman in Mississippi

The elders still shame, the church folk still show blame

They call out everyone's business with the name after name

So many years later I became more

I stayed focused, I am more

I stayed rooted, I am more

I stayed put in one piece, I am more

I break away, in me starts to know my worth

I find courage, in me starts to know my worth

I find strength, in me starts to know my worth

I find peace, in me starts to know my worth

Shame and blame are all the same at the end of the day it's the game they play

My ears mute no longer hearing what they say

I find peace day after day

So I can be able to get older and tell my story

Once upon a time, there was a little black girl......

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