Black by Maya Mitchell

February 2022

black

their most favourite colour in clothing

but not in skin

a colour associated with sadness and deep loathing

but black pepper is lovingly grinded and mixed in

black charcoal sticks

put in water bottles made of glass

yet we are placed at the bottom of the hierarchy of socio-economic class

white stones against the garden fence

beautifully painted black

turns to barbed wire fences, white officers and pictures in cells stuck up with blu-tac

a coffee, no milk, no sugar – just black

yet burnt toast, its nasty … its inedible … its black

tanned body with the picture captioned ‘take me back’

but when the hate rushes in

you no longer wish to be black