Who Am I To Be If Not Me? Poem by Angela Bontle Ditumiso

You find me obsolete
My hair, my silence, my smile
I'm sorry you can't come
To appreciate them
As much as I do

You find my hair too nappy
For your liking
My silence too toxic
My smiling at strangers
Too polite, too human

I'm sorry I will not change
At your request
Be like other girls
Put a layer make up
To hide my blemishes
Maybe then I'd look better you say
Well I don't want better
I want me

I'm not perfect
I won't pretend I am
Who am I to be if not me?
And if I'm not me
Will you be happy then?