As a kid, raised in a rural diaspora community

My parents never sat me down and said

‘My child, the world is unfair, you must learn to be careful, especially as a Black woman’

Instead, I was raised with the perception

That like all of my friends, I could do, be and have my heart’s desire

It wasn’t about being pro-Black and desiring love from a man who shared the same stories as I

Just, imagine, what it is like to be so sheltered, and raised so innocent, that you don’t even know you have a target on your back, just for being Black

Being brought up to love and embrace your ‘own’ only to be dismissed as if you didn’t exist, to begin with

I got older and learned on my own terms that relationships are not about skin color

I learned to love without judgment

To see the person for their kindness, personality, and omit the fact that our skin is the only difference between us

So between my childhood and my adulthood, I have been back and forth about why I would ever consider switching sides

...And then you happened 

I re-wrote this poem many years later

Because I ended up choosing to be happy

I wondered, ‘what if’

Him being him and I being I 

Wouldn’t really add up in anyone’s eyes

But I have realized that outside opinions don’t count 

And the more we allow those who do not understand to infiltrate their self-hate into the possibility of something great

Makes us question what’s at stake

You give me butterflies - still to this day

Our skin may not match but our hearts do

Your eyes may be Blue and mine may be Black 

But we owe it to ourselves to not hold anything back 

Just because we are cut from two different cloths 

Does not mean that our love is not worth fighting for

If there is one thing I have learned over time

Love should never be political

Love should not be criticized

Love should be celebrated

Happiness deserves to be explored

Laughter must be constant

And feelings must never be hidden