Special Features
Illustrated by Clayton
Illustrated by Alexxus Hart
My Family’s Day
Aaliyah Green
My father’s skin is colorless, and almost iridescent
His cheeks, rosy red, freckles danced across his face like sprinkles
His snowy, complexion
Dazzles and turns pink under pressure
While his erratic,wavy hair
Blows lifeless in the wind
My mother’s skin
Beautiful brown skin
velvety and smooth like chocolate
Her hair reaches out to grab me with its curls, her skin sonorous with melanin
So majestic, and imperial
My skin
It’s different
Patches of white
Patches of brown
Vitiligo
My skin is like an ice cream cone
Chocolate or vanilla
Swirl please
God says
I’ve never loved ice cream more
We’re imperfect
I know
But on this praiseful day, such as this, we look past that
I never thought I could love one day so much
But one that commends families, by being together.
Is a day that will
Always
Be
Most
Special
In
my
heart.
My mother’s soul food, hugs my heart with love.
Every collard green
Sprinkled
with care
The yams on my plate
don’t touch
It’s time for a prayer
My father's traditional
Turkey, stuffed ,packed
Cranberries sweet sweet
Unsalted corn
it’s spicy, no more salt
My family is ‘weird’, and I love it
I love them more than unearthly stares we get when we go out
I love them more than the number of times people ask if I’m adopted
Family is only, truly defined by love
Not appearance
Diversity runs through our blood
From the tip of every kinky curl to every silky straight strand of hair
From the soft swirly palm of our hand
To every end of every toe
You think we’re a flawed family photo
But we’re more than you know
Aaliyah Green
My father’s skin is colorless, and almost iridescent
His cheeks, rosy red, freckles danced across his face like sprinkles
His snowy, complexion
Dazzles and turns pink under pressure
While his erratic,wavy hair
Blows lifeless in the wind
My mother’s skin
Beautiful brown skin
velvety and smooth like chocolate
Her hair reaches out to grab me with its curls, her skin sonorous with melanin
So majestic, and imperial
My skin
It’s different
Patches of white
Patches of brown
Vitiligo
My skin is like an ice cream cone
Chocolate or vanilla
Swirl please
God says
I’ve never loved ice cream more
We’re imperfect
I know
But on this praiseful day, such as this, we look past that
I never thought I could love one day so much
But one that commends families, by being together.
Is a day that will
Always
Be
Most
Special
In
my
heart.
My mother’s soul food, hugs my heart with love.
Every collard green
Sprinkled
with care
The yams on my plate
don’t touch
It’s time for a prayer
My father's traditional
Turkey, stuffed ,packed
Cranberries sweet sweet
Unsalted corn
it’s spicy, no more salt
My family is ‘weird’, and I love it
I love them more than unearthly stares we get when we go out
I love them more than the number of times people ask if I’m adopted
Family is only, truly defined by love
Not appearance
Diversity runs through our blood
From the tip of every kinky curl to every silky straight strand of hair
From the soft swirly palm of our hand
To every end of every toe
You think we’re a flawed family photo
But we’re more than you know
Illustrated by Shalen Tully
Homecoming -- Illustrated by Shalen Tully