Reminder

By Alexis Hunter, 22

every morning i stare at my reflection in the mirror
i remind myself that my people and i are beautiful
that our skin tells unique stories that many do not want to hear
and i know we are beautiful
we deserve to live

you say we are darts loaded and ready to aim
but i have seen our gentle eyes smile at a stranger passing by
our outstretched arms embrace a child
our hands fix things you say would always be broken
our mere presence fill a room with joy and laughter
as people dance to the rhythm of our voices
i know we are beautiful
and i will not allow you to tell me any differently

i have spent my whole life reminding myself that i am beautiful
that my people are beautiful
that we are worthy
that we deserve to live
we deserve to live
being Black should not be a death sentence
you do not understand how tiring it is trying to convince you of this

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Black lives are still being taken at the hands of police brutality. This poem is a reminder to myself and those who are Black that we are beautiful and deserve to live. We must continue fighting for justice and equity in our world. #blacklivesmatter

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Photo by Tito Texidor III