The Color of My Skin

I wrote this poem responding to a disturbing story on the news about someone vandalizing someone's cars because of the color of their skin. The amount of melanin in one's skin varies, and one shade is not superior over another's. As a nurse, this just frustrates me that people put such value on how someone looks. Everyone will make a judgment of us, as we all make an impression, but may it be based on our actions and how we conduct ourselves and care for ourselves, and not because of something that is so superficial as outward appearances. 

The Color of My Skin

By Dawn Foss

Please do not condemn me by the color of my skin,

We vary on the outside, but we’re the same within.

The texture of my hair, the color of my eyes

These superficial things are just part of my design.

Disease or handicaps may make living my life hard,

Please treat me with support and kindness, not with disregard.

Violence and disrespect for how I look to you

Is mean and callous, full of pride, hurtful through and through.

Rather judge me for my acts, I can control these things,

Beauty is fleeting, age catches up, life flies with outstretched wings.

If we would spend more time to judge what we do and say,

This world would be a better place, we’d show a better way.