it's not your skin that makes you beautiful,
Although your skin is beautiful,
But rather your entire frame of mind
Even if you rewind back time
To when you were shackled, still you shined
Shined while chanting, still I rise
You are not a woman of color, or a girl with black skin
More accurately, you are an ebony goddess
A symbol of strength to be admired,
A symbol of *** to be desired
the way your hips sway with grace
Even if your natural hair doesn't touch your waist
No longer are you a caged bird that sings,
But rather a hawk that soars proudly or a songbird that sings loudly
Just hold my words true and never doubt me
Too often society says your skin is too dark,
They don't use you in Maybelle ads and I can tell it hurts your heart
Like everyone fears the darkest nights yet praises summers day
Remember my ebony goddess,
The night sky looks the most beautiful, when it's a sky full of rain
You are beautiful, and you are black
It doesn't matter if your skin is as dark as the night sky,
Or as light as the caramel you buy
Be comfortable in your own skin,
Because your own skin is beautiful