By Toniann Quick
Left out and different
I was always the “dark one”
When I would visit my mom’s side
They would make jokes
“Aw, look at your little black girl”
“I wonder what you would look like white”
I stood out like a sore thumb with family, in school
Left alone, lonely
Nobody understood the real me
The mixed me
I love my mom and dad, but when will they get me
Who I am
Who I want to be
Yes, I am “mixed”
Yes, I am a “mixed breed” as some say
I will continue to say it and flaunt it
Like a sea lion showing off his new trick
When asked what I am
I’ll say
a person
a human
a girl
and from there,
my darkness will shine as bright as the sun
The “Dark One” was published in Listening to the Trees, a collection of social justice poems with students from the High School of Fashion Industries in 2016. Help support the unique voices of our young authors by sharing their stories and making a donation! To receive notices about opportunities for your child, sign up for our youth writing opportunities newsletter.
