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