Shades (Inspired by Wale - Shades)

 
Chip on my shoulder
big enough to feed Cambodia
Spent countless nights
Crying over ya.

Cuz you didn't like me,
and I didn't love me,
While they ignored me,
Called me a darkie..

See, it's a cycle that
continuously repeats
like a washing machine
on the spin cycle
But I won't put my skin
through a rinse
and end up like Michael
Living my life trying to convince

You,
that I love myself.
But who am I trying more to convince
You, them or myself?
Sliding down the pole of life
after my Brothers sent me
to collect dust on the bottom shelf
Only able to toss me around
so carelessly
Because he hates his own self
Listen how History repeats itself.

Willie Lynch must find happiness
In his grave.
Smiling and laughing
afterall his flawless plan
suggested that
Hundreds of years after
the freedom of the Black Man
WE would still be slaves...
And I quote..
"On the top of my list is age,
but only because it starts with an A,
the second is color"
Or dare I say shade...
And all this information
can be found in the
"Willie Lynch Letter: The Making of a Slave"

So I would to take this time to apologize
I'm not a "yellow bone"
All petite and thin.
I'm sorry that my hair aint long and silky
like Caucasians are my next of kin.
I'm sorry that blackness covers
the outside of my shins.
But most of all I'm sorry that
You idea of beauty
ever made me feel that
My Blackness was a Sin.

My Black is BEAUTIFUL.
And I say this no matter the shade.
I'd feel the same way
If my complexion were honey
Or If I were black as a spade.
So I apologize sincerely
that you can't show me affection
Because you're put off by my complexion,
But baby this is how I was made.

So from a dark skin sista
to my black men
Shade doesn't matter
True beauty comes from within.
Honey brown, caramel,
toffee or Pecan
Shade really shouldn't matter
We're a rainbow of people
and we've been like this
since time began.