My cousin wrote a great poem for her black history month celebration that I've wanted to share with you all. I'm gonna transcribe it here.

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TATTYWNK by Talia N.

These are the things you will never know

Keeping your hands out of your pockets while you're in the store
So no one thinks you stole

These are the things you will never know

Lowering your voice when you are arguing or debating
Just so people won't think your temper is escalating

These are the things you will never know

Smiling at the old ladies in the store or on the road
So that they don't clutch their purses tighter the closer you go

These are the things you will never know

Your hair looks better straight
Is that yours?
Need I say more?

These are the things you will never know

When you have to work twice as hard
To prove something that others don't

These are the things you will never know

You can never be unarmed
Because blackness is seen as a weapon

These are the things you will never know

To be black comes with struggles you cannot understand
No matter how much you may sympathize

These are the things you will never know

To be part of a group that has been through so much
That fights day by day to disprove the rumors
Whispered and yelled across generations

These are the things you will never know

To be afraid of what could happen to you one day
Because of your skin tone

These are the things you will never know

To be a black person or black WOMAN that
Strives
Thrives
And grows

These are the things you will never know