God why did you make me black

I was thirteen years old, a freshman in high school. This was my first mission trip – a week of working in an elementary school in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Inner-city urban experience, meet private-school-raised girl. School grounds within the walls of my church, meet bars and constant police surveillance. The students we were going to serve looked a lot like me, but I could not feel further from their experience 

Our team came during a week-long civil rights celebration week.  At the end of that week, we were invited to the main room to listen to the presentations from a few classrooms. Flanked on either side by a kindergarten student —and with at least two more in my lap — I listened to a young girl recite the poem, "Lord, Why Did You Make Me Black?" by RuNett Nia Ebo. It opens with a series of questions to God which left me weeping in a sea of small children: 

Why did You make me some one the world wants to hold back? 

Black is the color of dirty clothes; the color of grimy hands and feet.

Black is the color of darkness; the color of tire beaten streets.

Why did you give me thick lips, a broad nose and kinky hair?

Why did you make me someone who receives the hatred stare?

I wept for the voice of the girl who recited the entire poem from memory. I wept for so many of my sisters who have internalized the pain of the poet’s questions to signify their permanent reality. I wept for myself, in being too afraid to accept the same shared insecurities this girl was so bold to publically declare.

Years later, I have not forgotten the poem, and I occasionally read through it as a reminder of that first time I was moved by such powerful words. The first half—the questions—remain, but I try to live in the truth of the second half, of God’s reply to us. I look back at that first mission trip and realize that our respective stories are not too different from one another. Our commonality comes in knowing the likeness in which we are all made. 

Nicole Higgins is Adminitrative Assistant at Sojourners. Follow Nicole on Twitter @RareBlackBirds.

by RuNett Nia Ebo.

Lord, Lord,
Why did You make me Black?
Why did You make me someone
the world wants to hold back?

Black is the color of dirty clothes;
the color of grimy hands and feet.
Black is the color of darkness;
the color of tire-beaten streets.

Why did you give me thick lips,
a broad nose and kinky hair?
Why did You make me someone
who receives the hatred stare?

Black is the color of a bruised eye
when somebody gets hurt.
Black is the color of darkness.
Black is the color of dirt.

How come my bone structure’s so thick;
my hips and cheeks are high?

How come my eyes are brown 

and not the color of daylight sky?

Why do people think I'm useless?
How come I feel so used?
Why do some people see my skin
and think I should be abused?

Lord, I just don't understand;
what is it about my skin?
Why do some people want to hate me
and not know the person within?

Black is what people are "listed,"
when others want to keep them away.
Black is the color of shadows cast.
Black is the end of the day.

Lord, You know, my own people mistreat me;
and I know this just isn't right.
They don't like my hair or the way I look.
They say I'm too dark or too light.

Lord, don't You think it's time
for You to make a change?
Why don't You re-do creation
and make everyone the same?

 (and- God answered )

Why did I make you Black?   

Why did I make you Black?


Get off your knees; look around. 
Tell me, what do you see?
I didn’t make you in the image of darkness.  
I made you in the likeness of Me

I made you the color of coal
from which beautiful diamonds are formed.
I made you the color of oil;
the Black gold that keeps people warm.

I made you from the rich, dark earth
that can grow the food you need.
Your color's the same as the panther's
known for (her) beauty and speed.

Your color's the same as the Black stallion,
a majestic animal is he.
I didn't make you in the Image of darkness.
I made you in the Likeness of Me !
                                                                         

All the colors of the Heavenly Rainbow
can be found throughout every nation;
and when all those colors were blended well;
YOU BECAME MY GREATEST CREATION!                    

Your hair is the texture of lamb's wool;
such a humble, little creature is he.
I am the Shepherd who watches them.
I am the One who will watch over thee.

You are the color of midnight sky.
I put the stars' glitter in your eyes.
There's a smile hidden behind your pain;
that's the reason your cheeks are high.

You are the color of dark clouds formed

© 1994 written by  RuNett Nia Ebo

Poet of Purpose

When you need a gift card and don't have time to run around.

Original copyrighted poem used with permission of the author.

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