2010 Youth Contest Winners
Become a part of the greater African-American journey. Our true beauty shines when we use our inner strength, kindness and generosity to live out our passions and help others. Discover the stories of those who help make a difference and act as positive role models in black communities. Get inspired to start something positive and become a catalyst in your own neighborhood.
My Black is Beautiful Poetry/Rap/Song Contest Winners
My Black is Beautiful celebrates African-American literature, black poetry and music. The following Catalysts are three young writers who won the 2010 My Black is Beautiful Poetry/Rap/Song Contest. The contest was a part of the ESSENCE® Music Festival® Youth Outreach Program. All winners attended the 2010 New Orleans Recreation Department summer camp. Each participant had to write about why his or her black is beautiful. We hope you enjoy reading their winning entries.
Corey, Age 12
Strong
Powerful
Able to take a stand
That's what I see when I look into the face of a black man.
Beauty
Sophistication
Lips softer than a whisper
That's what I see in the face of a black sister.
The curve of his chin
The will to win
That's what I see in a black man's grin.
Perseverance
Natural style
That's what I see in a black woman's smile.
Hard working
Doing all he can
That's what I see in a black man's hands.
Grace
Elegance
A place where peace lingers
That's what I see in a black woman's fingers.
So for all those who just can't see because of the color of our skin have made your vision blurry, let me reassure this one true fact.
There is no greater beauty than the beauty of being black.
Lan'esa, Age 13
A word often laughed at.
Why not love, why not embrace.
I am black!
That's what I say!
To all the laughs, to all the hate.
Black! My black!
It's beautiful!
I love it!
I embrace it!
My black is ...
The crinkle of my hair,
The caramel glow of my skin,
The history of my people,
The struggle, and fight for equal rights.
The accomplishments, the achievements.
Black
My black is an award!
It shows how we struggled and overcome the beatings,
The laughs, the hate!
My black is beautiful!
I am proud!
I am unique!
I love it!
I embrace it!
Black is my past, present, and future.
It's beautiful!
It's special!
And yes
Oh yes
It's Me!!!
Tyrea'l, Age 12
'Cause my black is me
My black says who I am
And I'm proud
To be me
Nobody can tell me who I'm
Supposed to be
My number one love will never change
'Cause my number one love is ...
My beautiful black
In the past some people used to hate my color
They used to make people of my color
Feel bad and they still do now
But I say
Don't worry or care about what they say
Long as you love your black
Like I do
No words could EVER hurt you
Every day I encourage young black
Boys and girls to keep their heads held high
And never look down on your beauty.
I am close to my black
Because NO ONE can tell me that I shouldn't think that
My black is beautiful
Because I know it is
God gave me this black the day he created me
He gave me my Beautiful Black
Because he knew I would embrace it in the
Best way possible
My black is BEAUTIFUL because
It expresses who I am
And who I will always be
My black is me
My black is who I am proud to be
My black can NEVER be taken away from me
Sometimes when people talk about my black
I question myself
But when I think it over
I snap out of it and tell myself
That I shouldn't doubt myself
'cause in life
I don't have room for doubt
'cause doubt only brings you down
Like I said
My black is beautiful
Because my black is me
And my beauty shines from within
2009 Youth Contest Winners
Become a part of the greater African-American journey. Our true beauty shines when we use our inner strength, kindness and generosity to live out our passions and help others. Discover the stories of those who help make a difference and act as positive role models in black communities. Get inspired to start something positive and become a catalyst in your own neighborhood.
My Black is Beautiful Poetry/Rap/Song Contest Winners
My Black is Beautiful celebrates African-American literature, black poetry and music. The following catalysts include three teens who won the 2009 My Black is Beautiful Poetry/Rap/Song Contest. The contest was a part of the ESSENCE® Music Festival® Youth Outreach Program. All winners attended the 2009 New Orleans Recreation Department summer camp. We hope you enjoy reading their winning entries.
Rudy, Age 15
Because I am free.
My Black is Beautiful
Because I can see.
That Black is radiant
It shines bright in the sun.
Black is Beautiful on everyone.
But my particular Black
Is special and unique.
My particular Black
Is very chic.
It's loving and strong.
It lasts a lifetime long
My Black is Beautiful
with a priceless fee
My Black is Beautiful
Because I am me.
Paris, Age 13
I look in the mirror and say I am beautiful each and every day.
I like helping people in need,
They won't have to beg or plead.
That's the way it should be,
Helping others is rewarding you should see.
If it's money I have to give,
I would no doubt so another could live,
Most people think that in helping others you are wack,
But when they come at me that way I turn the other cheek to that attack.
My Black is Beautiful cause I'm me,
My Black is Beautiful if you let your guard down to see.
When giving to others I gain so much pride,
And that's no lie that smile that I display is so wide.
I'm intelligent, you're intelligent and that's a fact,
My Black is Beautiful and that's not wack.
If you open your eyes to just the real me,
You see I lead by example for all to see.
My Black is Beautiful in every way,
My Black is Beautiful in each and every way.
Jonathan, Age 14
There is only one bold and beautiful Black
I wear this color out like it is the most hottest trend
My Black flows like the midnight sky.
Never once did I wonder why.
Grandma says I could be what I want to be but always remember
To be proud of me
I am proud to be Black because it is a unique and stylish color
My Black is Beautiful because I know that there is no other color like it.
It is the best color to fit my description, smooth and clean.
It is a color that makes others notice, no matter what their black
is, newest and oldest.
My mother tells my Black to go as far as it can go, as
Long as I don't go too fast or too slow.
The color of my skin is smooth as community coffee without the
cream or sugar/just me.
My Black is Beautiful because my Black is me!
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