A poem to black women

To my sisters, this is a reminder of what makes us beautiful. To my brothers, this is a reminder that your love of us isn't futile, it's been earned... and then some Author Unknown WHAT IF I AM A BLACK WOMAN? IS IT A DISEASE? WELL, IF IT IS,I SURE HOPE IT'S CATCHING BECAUSE THEY NEED TO POUR IT INTO A BOTTLE, LABEL IT, AND SPRINKLE IT ALL OVER THE PEOPLE~ MEN AND WOMEN~WHO EVER LOVED OR CRIED, WORKED OR DIED FOR ANY ONE OF US. SO...WHAT IF I AM A BLACK WOMAN? IS IT A CRIME? ARREST ME! BECAUSE I'M STRONG, BUT I'M GENTLE. I'M SMART,BUT I'M LEARNING, I'M LOVING, BUT I'M HATEFUL. AND I LIKE TO WORK BECAUSE I LIKE TO EAT AND FEED AND CLOTHE AND HOUSE ME, MINE, AND YOURS AND EVERYBODYS, LIKE I'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST 300 YEARS.   WHAT IF I AM A BLACK WOMAN? IS IT INSANE? COMMITT ME! BECAUSE I WANT THE HAPPINESS, NOT TEARS; TRUTHS, NOT LIES; PLEASURE NOT PAIN; SUNSHINE, NOT RAIN; A MAN, NOT A CHILD! WHAT IF I AM A BLACK WOMAN? IS IT A SIN? PRAY FOR ME! AND PRAY FOR YOU TOO, IF YOU DON'T LIKE WOMEN OF COLOR BECAUSE WE ARE... MIDNIGHT BLACK, CHESTNUT BROWN, HONEY BRONZED, CHOCOLATE COVERED, COCOA DIPPED, BIGGED LIPPED, BIG HIPPED, BIG BREASTED, AND BEAUTIFUL ALL AT THE SAME TIME! SO...WHAT IF I AM A BLACK WOMAN? DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT MUCH BECAUSE I WANT A MAN WHO WANTS ME...LOVES ME AND TRUSTS ME, AND RESPECTS ME AND GIVES ME EVERYTHING BECAUSE I GIVE HIM EVERYTHING BACK, PLUS!          WHAT IF I AM A BLACK WOMAN? I'VE GOT RIGHTS, SAME AS YOU! I HAVE WORKED FOR THEM, DIED FOR THEM, LIED FOR THEM, PLAYED AND LAID FOR THEM, ON EVERY PLANTATION FROM ALABAMA TO BOSTON AND BACK!   WHAT IF I AM A BLACK WOMAN? I LOVE ME, AND I WANT YOU TO LOVE ME TOO, BUT I AM, AS I'VE ALWAYS BEEN, NEAR YOU, CLOSE TO YOU, BESIDE YOU, STRONG, GIVING, LOVING,                        FOR OVER 300 YEARS, YOUR BLACK WOMAN... LOVE ME!