Burnt Sienna

my black looks like this.

my black is not about what makes you comfortable.

not what you think black is 'supposed' to look like.

not what you want to be known for identifying with.

not what you want your black to look like.

not what supports your agenda.

not blindly co-opting an entire continent 

with no working knowledge or research 

in search of lost ancestry.

not 'revolutionary'.

not 'militant'.

not who you want me to be.

not what you want to believe.

not pro or anti, anything.

just, balanced.

me.

my black looks like this.

intelligent.

well-read.

well-spoken.

well-heeled.

american.

well reared.

broken.

healed.

doubted.

celebrated.

converted.

too proper for my 'black' cousins.

too 'white' for my street friends.

too black for my white friends.

too 'ethnic' for my coworkers.

well-rounded.

'speaks so well', to your surprise.

cloudy family ancestry.

Irish. Native American. 

annnnd.... (?) somewhere in there.

so, basically.

Black.

my black looks like this.

brownest skin of my mothers side.

reddest skin of my fathers side.

'too smart for your own good'.

'have an answer for everything'.

'always see or looking for the other side of things'.

not 'black' enough.

not 'other' enough.

more american than black.

more indiana than american.

more me, than anything. 

my black looks like this.

the color of magic.

mystery.

the balance of light.

burnt sienna.

cinnamon coffee.

melanin ample.

aware.

empathetic.

global citizenry.

oxidization.

deep forest trees filled with stories since time.

autumn leaves.

the colour of limitless possibilities.

my black looks like this.

socially masterful.

socially averse.

classy.

tasteful.

bougie.

bourgeoise.

uppity.

'doing too much'.

self-respecting.

respectful.

woke.

loving.

caring.

kind.

eternally curious.

always with a question.

always with a long answer.

wide range of interests.

non-religious.

truth seeking.

likes 'white people sh*t'.

weird.

not weird enough.

science nerd.

tech geek.

comic fan.

anime lover.

manga reader.

futurist.

escapist.

distant.

overly protective.

understanding.

mildly high fear of heights.

loves musicals.

loves laughing. 

values mental health.

believes in therapy.

works for healing.

healing myself.

healing the world.

healing in words, of truth.

healing you.

my black looks like this.

-you're welcome.-

Thumbnail image originally shot by John Midgley