This is a poem from one of my classmates reflecting on his experience while visiting Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.  We are here to teach English at a summer camp in Beijing Royal School.

In Tianamen Square 
Got as much attention there
As the exhibit
The people, all ages 
Wanted pictures 
Pointing
Amazed
As if I was the first they’d ever seen
Arms around strangers
And babies
And children 
And elders
Shook hands like a prize fighter
The admiration of….
my color
my hue 
my skin 
Was beautiful to them 
My smile was Universal 
I just cried a little when I wrote this 
U probably wouldn’t understand

This skin 
Dark and Tattooed 
This beard black and coarse
Was new to them 
waived to break the ice 
for Shy children 
jaws dropped in awe
And reluctant parents 
Whispering my truth 
Still astonished
My experience
Showed they know
this world’s history
Welcomed me to their land 
We barely spoke beyond hi
But our interactions said a lot 

In Tiananmen Square 
Beyond all the stares 
I was humbled 
Here; my skin my glows
Glistened in
90 degrees easy
I Shined like some Black star 
In all this smog 

Felt famous 
And admired 
For absorbing all the sun has 
And coming out Me
I was born this way 
Yet amongst all this history 
I was new 
Strong body 
Strong mind 
Open heart 
My soul touched 
Way deeper than I can explain
And it was all real 
Gods people of color 
Blended the way HE intended
Im just the darker one 
No need to adjust
my complexion is right 
Just focus 
Look straight
Now…..
Smile 

– Gerrard Allen