What Do You See?

What do you see when you see me?

Do you see my jet black, side part, slicked back hair?

Do you see my filled in brows and long lashes?

Do you see my red lips, and nails done?

What do you see when you see me?

Do you see the dips in my hips,

The curve on my hips?

What do you see when you see me?

Do you see the cuffed jeans, and black vans?

The black coat, and knit scarf?

What do you see when you see me?

But stop, do you see me?

Do you truly see me?

Open your eyes, see me for me.

See the pain.

The pain of looking at self and not fitting the norms

The pain of being told that I cannot attain the best because I am woman

Open your eyes, see me for me.

See the anger.

The anger of having to only be seen for my gender or my race.

The anger of having to fight twice as hard because to many think I’m “spoiled.

Open your eyes, see me for me.

See the ambition

The ambition of a young woman fighting for her seat at the table.

See the strength

The strength to get up and fight, every time I’m knocked down.

See the courage

The courage of carrying the hope of generations before, and pushing them forward.

Open your eyes, see me for me.

See the woman who stands on the shoulders of many powerful women.

See the woman who saw pain but turned into triumphs.

See me for me.

See passion

See ambition

See love

See character

See ME FOR ME