My mother said she was African
no matter where she stood
you could take her feet off African soil
but you couldn’t take her African good
My mother said her mother
was the mother of civilization
you could take her name
you could cause her shame
but you couldn’t take that salutation
My mother said I was royalty
crowned Prince of the Motherland
she said I was the one
God’s promised son
and back home I was truly grand
My mother said my melanin
was a gift and I should be proud
she said darkness of hue
is God’s gift to you
your personal protective shroud
My mother said my hair
like Sampson’s represented strength
She said one shouldn’t hide
their race pride
the power’s in the lock not the length
My mother said many things
and most I put on a shelf
but one thing is clear, I can still hear
“SON, LEARN TO LOVE YOUR SELF”