ART BY MENTEES EMMANUELLA AGYEMANG, MARY MASSAQUOI & RACHEL SEKYERE
I see myself
I am mesmerized by my power.
Emmanuella
My name means God is with us
I will not fail
I see my cocoa-colored skin
My delicate dark brown eyes
The first to go to college in my family.
The first published writer.
I am taking my place in history
Like women who have done it before me
Like all the girls like me
Whose skin is as dark and beautiful as night.
–Mentee Emmanuella Agyemang
Look me in the eyes when I laugh. Look at our Black bodies that aren’t just bodies and our Black laughter that will never know death, even when we do. Even if we do.
This poem is dedicated to culture, lost identities, and the truth that it’s never too late to connect back to your roots that were taken away from you.
I am showcasing my love for Black features, our hair, skin, and lips. They are often portrayed in a positive light when they are on white bodies, but they should be celebrated on our bodies.
I’ve got a lot of opinions, and I want to speak out. Still, I struggle to deal with doubts, to find the right words, to steel myself for the comments from those who disagree.
Poetic Pillars is a collection of poetry encompassing such themes as identity, mental health, family, heritage and love that serve as moments of self-reflection and appreciation of our individual and shared experiences.
In this piece you are about to read, I am telling you more about who I am and exploring all the layers of my identity. I use the words “I am” to highlight the different places, physical and emotional, that have made me who I am today.
In honor of Black History Month, I have written a piece that reflects on everyday reminders of slavery. I draw an unconventional parallel between my life and the experience of an enslaved woman.