Dear African Woman Only you can understand what it means to be an African queen What is means to be black, bold and beautiful   Dear African Woman For centuries you have been told that your place is in the kitchen You have been boxed to build your world right in the shadows of men And your gifts, they are buried with the umbilical chords of your children yet to be born   You have worked the fields and cooked the meals You have cared for the children and fed the men You have been the backbone of this continent   Yet, my dear African Woman you do not know who you are   You are the light that shines in the darkness The beacon that restores hope into our hearts The source of strength and courage An embodiment of masculinity and feminity The perfect being   You are the home keeper, the nation builder the tear wiper, the smile giver the support system and life line of the continent You are more beautiful than a flower in the Savannah Your smile is like falling snow on a drought striken land Your kinky Afro is like the soft cushions of clouds in the sky   You come in many shades: Beige, Chocolate, Caramel, Mocha Hazel nut, Honey, Espresso, Ivory, Olive, Ebony   You are sweeter than Oreo’s dunked in milk You are warmer than hot cocoa in the dry season during a storm You are goodness You are wonder You are grace You are kindness You are fearless You are lovely All wrapped in one   Dear African Woman, no matter where you are No matter how you think you look no matter how you see yourself you are a special gift to the world   Rise up and make that change in the world Be that difference Lift your head high like the queen you are meant to be For you are good enough You are strong enough You are beautiful enough And my dear African Woman You are just enough