LOOK AT ME...

For the past 6 years, I have been going into the public schools, teaching abstinence to Middle School students. I have seen it all, I have heard it all!  Young girls with HPV, Syphilis, pregnant, and emotionally broken. It is truly heartwrenching to see this in girls as young as 13. When I was a mentor at the Hope Center, girls as young as 11 were coming in pregnant! And they open up to me like they never have to thier own parents.

They tell me that all they want is 'Love'...someone to look at them and feel as if they are beautiful, unique, and desired. And when the young men will tell them what they want to hear, they are willing to give up every inch of self respect they have...for the temporary pleasure of knowing this feeling. It is now to the point where the girls are becoming 'the aggressors'...and are fighting to be seen and noticed in the eyes of the young men. They feel as if they have to compete with the more promiscuous girls to even have a chance. In the classroom, I attempt to talk to these girls about inner beauty, self-esteem, self-love, and respect of thier bodies, but my talk is only 3 days long....many eventally go home to Neglect, pain and lonliness.

I just feel that if we as mothers, and fathers show our children love and give them compliments and attention-spend a little extra time with them, they dont have to look for it in the arms of a boy/girlfriend. Take the time to tell them that they are special, loved and desired, and that thier bodies are the Holy Temple of God, and should remain PURE until marriage. If they understod who and what thier value was... they would honor themselves more. This is what I alwasy strived to do with my kids. Everyone who knew us, knew that we roll DEEP! Kids, kids' friends, extended family, etc. We put plenty of love in our kids: spelled T-I-M-E. To this day, my daughters (ages 18 and 17 are still virgins by choice.) 

I would love to see more parents step up to the plate. But these days, many parents THEMSELVES are not living a pure, self-controlled life by example! I suppose THEY need to be taught this as well....smh... 

This poem is for the girls-and women- who need to know how special, unique and beautiful you really are: and that your worth is more than rubies and pearls!!! You deserve to be respected, loved and adored. You are a Daughter of the King!!

Look at Me
See my face
Its more than the frame of a pretty smile
Behind these eyes lie
A brain inside, with
Thoughts, and dreams, feelings, and desires
Can you see beyond my admirers?
Can you see?

Look at Me
See my skin
Smooth and black
Or pale as sand
It longs to be touched
And held by compassionate hands
Not slapped and pushed and pulled and grabbed
Notice the colors that were blended to make ME
Don't you know
It takes more than Bruises to break me?
Can you see?


Look at Me
See my hair
Whether silky and straight
Or as tight as wool
It's meant to be caressed
Not grabbed and pulled
It is my strength, my crowning glory
Every strand tells my ancestors' story
Can you see?

Look at Me
My lovely body
Contains a heart
That cares and needs
And beats and bleeds
It hurts when wronged
It breaks and grieves
Its more than something to feed your needs
Can you see?

Look at me
My breasts and hips
Are more than toys
To slap and lick
They're made instead to carry and feed
Future generations of Greatness...
Yes, Indeed!
Yet they are laughingly
Stared at and played with
And thrown in men's faces
And grabbed at and photographed
Displayed on MySpaces
Can you see?


Look at me
My legs, my thighs
My hair, my eyes
Protect the soul
Where beauty lies
Thin or wide
Dark or light
My essence shines
Like heaven's lights
The biggest star
Can't shine as bright
I'm stellar baby
Can you see?
The universe aint got nothing on me…
Look at me!


Look at ME
With more than your eyes
See me just once with your heart
I am more than just the sum
Of bootylicious body parts
Beyond the weave
The Maybelline
The Whitened Teeth
To the heart beneath
Much more than the girl on the video screen
The 'bi***h" or "hoe"
That you perceive
Can you see?

So Really, really, Look at Me
Underneath the surface things you see
My body encases the soul of ME
I am the Daughter of Kings and Queens!
The Love of God created me
Made in the image of The King of Kings
I'm a Mother of Nations, a Helper, a Queen
I was not made
To be a man's PLAYTHING
I deserve a ring, not a one-night fling
When you look at me now
Tell me, what do you see?


Look at me!!
Look at me!!
Look at me!!

2008