Makayla Jennings
Instructions for Black Girls Who Cry At Their Reflection First things first: You must wipe your tears away. After this is done, clear your throat— there are voices trapped in there caged like ghosts chained and blood bound to you, their host. Secondly: You must stare at yourself. Look into the darkness of your eyes, find the greens, the reds, and the blues, but mostly focus on the black because that’s what’s most beautiful. Third: Unclench your knuckles. White snow they’ve turned, to the color of the man who colonized your body like his home— and clear your head of the ringing sounds. Your ancestors warned you of this. Listen to them now. Fourth thing now: Is to scream out your name. Scream out your heartaches and pained assimilation. Let your tears run down, for every time you burned yourself trying to look like America’s barbie. Scream out that you are beautiful and worthy. Admire the kinks of your hair and envied vision of your hips, the blended colors of raw earth on your skin.
27
