darkskinnedblackbeauty:
When a black man says that you are pretty…for a dark skinned girl”
He will nod his head
He will say this with a chuckle in the basement of his throat
As though words like these
Are not smoking pistols
That wound the self-esteem of women who wear midnight on their skin
He will smile
As if he is almost
But not quite willing to excuse the amount of Africa stomping inside of your DNA
What he’s saying
Is that there is a railroad on the color wheel
And you are from the wrong side of tracks
He will treat you as though you were born without knees
And somehow figured out how to crawl
When he pats you on the back
Understand that there is no apology in the trunk
Or a compliment riding shotgun
His wisdom teeth are wearing white hoods
And straddling his tongue like a horse
Don’t let them burn crosswords into your pride
He wouldn’t be able to recognize beauty
If he was pulled out of beauty’s vagina
You are a constellation
And I’ve owned a telescope since the day I was born
Even on days when you feel invisible
I see you
~ Rudy Francisco
http://rudyfrancisco.tumblr.com/post/13389404224/freewrite-when-a-black-man-says-that-you-are