You may not like the colour of my skin br whether it mocks the tawny mare of a lion br strolling through the Savannah br or whether it emulates the wings br of an eagle escalating over Alaska’s milky mountains. br br You may not comprehend the known traditions of my culture, br whether I greet you with a kiss on both cheeks br decorate my body with a bindi br talk to you in accelerated Patois br or dance in Ashanti style. br br You may laugh at the number the arrow br falls on the weight scale br when I’m propped on it, br and what I packed for lunch may cause br you to point and whisper. br br Maybe my eyes are too far apart, br my nose too miniscule, br my lips may stretch too wide, br my ears may stick out a little too much, br or possibly my chest is too flat. br br br br So I guess you aren’t too fond of the br zebra-printed t-shirt I wore to school today, br or the blond streaks in my short black hair. br br I guess you didn’t find that joke I made earlier br too funny, br maybe my laugh was too loud br or maybe my quirky nature throws you off. br br So I don’t sport as much curves as Beyonce, br my hair isn’t always ready to be tamed, br maybe you don’t like the fact that I feel br the need to take a book everywhere. br br But guess what? br I don’t care. br God made me beautiful in the skin that I’m in, br I hardly need your approval. br So if you can’t accept me br then I can’t help that. br Because like it or not, that’s Who I am.