With The Exception

By: Brionne Dunham

This is for my brothers who cannot seem to love black women, with the
With the exception of their mothers
Who love black girls who are half Indian, white, or Hispanic….which is cool,
But when they don’t mention the other half being black
is when I have an issue

Who bash black women…
Women who relate to you, Understand you,
And only demand from you…
Love
Black women, the ones that love you even when you don’t love us back

See because it’s not about who you Love or preferences
But what is more relevant is the love For the culture and the women who took part in creating it
It wasn’t a white girl who picked Cotton with you
Slaved with you
Was beaten with you and for you
It was the black girl…
Who still stands beside you
This is for my brothers who cannot Seem to love black women, with the Exception of their mothers

It’s about that blackness running Through our veins
No matter how much of the “other” Stuff we choose to identify with more Than that good stuff
I’m talking about that stuff that doesn’t get the attention it deserves
The recognition it is worth
The appreciation of the beauty within Its work
I’m talking about the kinky coils Deriving from the crown of the head
Protected by the silk, satin scarf that protects us from the cotton
The same cotton we picked so that Amerikkka could be
The same cotton we wear on our backs, to hide the invisible wounds of hatred
Hatred from our own brothers
Who cannot seem to love black women, with the exception of their own mothers

I’m talking about the hatred for the Bass in our voices because we need You to understand how deep this is For us too
The loudness in our voices because We want to be heard too
The death that lies heavily within our Silence because we are also publicly, But secretly, dying, too
Because black girls want to be Listened to, too
Listen up my brothers
My brothers who cannot seem to love Black Wonmen, with the exception of Their mothers

I’m talking about that Mad Black Woman shit we are constantly Referred to when we just want to be Paid attention to
But when one of you is suddenly Taken from us, you want us to be Mad for you
I’m talking about the slander we hear from other races, but it kills us when We hear it coming from you
I’m talking about the Black Boy who told me he wouldn’t play me on the playground when I was 9
Because my skin was too dark
My hair was too nappy
Because I looked “too much like an African”
I’m talking about the Black Boy tweeting how unworthy and horribly ugly Black Girls are
The same Black Boy we will go to war for
The same Black Boy we will protest for
The same Black Boy we will go too far for
I’m talking about the Black Boys not loving the Black Girls
But want our love to unfurl
When they finally figure out that won’t nobody love them like a Black Girl
That this country don’t want them
That this country ain’t for them
That this country a Black Boy and a Black Girl built together
Is a true reminder of the relationship between a Black Boy and a Black Girl:
That no matter how hard you work for something
How much pride you have in something
How much you love something
It can turn against you and dehumanize you into nothing

This is for my Black Boys who don’t Realize that us Black Girls
Will stand…
Will fight…
Got love for the brothers who do Love and don’t love Black Girls
With the exception of their mothers

But who will stand for Black Girls Who will one day become Black Women…

Who will one day become Black Mothers?