Melanin
written by: Haven Lamptey
They smile with their teeth,
but I see the disgust
behind their eyes.
their gaze burns holes
into my back —
fake smiles stretched tight
because my skin
holds galaxies of melanin,
because my hair
dances in curls
they don’t understand.
they try to hide it,
but it’s louder
than the elephant in the room.
I feel it in my bones
when their eyes follow me —
a lion stalking prey,
ready to pounce.
my soul knows the truth:
their hearts carry a disdain
they cannot disguise.
is it just colour?
or something deeper?
why does it spark
such hatred?
does my skin —
rich, chocolate,
alive —
make me unworthy
of joy
in their eyes?
their whispers spread
like a virus,
mutating
into violence.
but without difference,
this world
would be dull —
one shade,
one silence.
we could learn,
we could bloom —
but prejudice
still walks beside us.
and here is the truth
you will never erase:
my melanin
is not your threat —
it is my crown.
