I need my melanin 

as crazy as that sounds

my melanin screams I am who I am, 

I need my melanin its

my sense of confidence and power,

head high and shoulders back 

so that my hair can touch the sky 

my melanin doesn’t determine my ethnicity 

I AM MY ETHNICITY.

All I need is my melanin

to make me feel safe in my skin.

Am I safe in my own skin? 

NO.

The stereotypes and statistics that surrounds me 

make it hard to be a black sista.

Oh how have I proven them wrong

just because I live in the projects that does not mean I am loud and ghetto

I am not loud and ghetto.

I am representing my melanin

I may be 16 but, I am not pregnant

and I am smart and I put forth the effort. 

I have a 4.5GPA and I am top 3 in my class

I am representing my melanin

I AM MY MELANIN.