Black Beauty

You are beautiful to me You are beautiful to me (You are, you are, you are) You are beautiful to me You are beautiful to me Let these words come from the mothers, fathers and teachers. Be the conversation of daughters and sons Rooted within, sprouting into official language I am worthy of love (Worthy) God's first. Then my own. I came Full bodied and complete The luster of my skin speaks (Speaks, I am) "I am a finished work". Inheritance of my ancestors Hands, arms and eyes that have weathered storms Same smile cause there's something in my mix Like everlast and endurance (Yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh, oh yeah) Melanite in a world that casts darkness as other than Lovely Other than Black radiance on the spectrum of visible glory I am a perfect word. Sent to a world with a broken eye Still I am called and seen Not thirsty for compliments because He made me the complement to a plan The Answer to a why? I am written Part Poem/Part Child-well made and good (Poem, child, well, good, hey yeah) An aesthetic transcending human arrogance (Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey) Who are they to challenge the coordinates of my nose or position of my lips Question the balance of my bold facial harmony? It's not my job to wear the labels of lesser minds or be the mule to carry their lies (Ooh oh, Ooh oh, Ooh Oh, I have a) I have a higher calling Caution to the critic who speaks against a testament formed in God's image A standard relevant to the times. A necessary reflection A healing and truth found Affirming that we are Black and Beautiful (Black and Beautiful) Worthy of Love Just as we are Right now Right now, right now, right now, right now! We are beautiful, yes Yes we are, say it with me yeah, say it with me yeah (Beautiful, beautiful I am) Say I am, I am (Beautiful, beautiful I am) Let it sink in, I am (Beautiful, beautiful I am) God help me to see me as you see me Oh, Yeah