"How It Feels to Be Colored Me" is a poem written by Zora Neale Hurston, a celebrated African American writer and folklorist. In this poem, Hurston reflects on her experiences as a black woman growing up in the United States during the early 20th century.
At the time, the United States was a deeply segregated society, and Hurston experienced firsthand the discrimination and prejudice that black people faced on a daily basis. Despite this, Hurston was proud of her heritage and refused to let the negative attitudes of others define her identity.
In the poem, Hurston writes about how she learned to embrace her blackness and how it has shaped her sense of self. She describes the feeling of being "colored" as a source of pride and beauty, rather than a burden or a hindrance. Hurston writes:
"I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background. For then I am at my rosiest. I say to myself, 'I am the only one of my kind in the world. I am the only one of my kind in this town. I am the only one of my kind in this street. I am the only one of my kind in this house.'"
Here, Hurston is saying that being "colored" is something to be celebrated and embraced, rather than something to be ashamed of. She revels in the unique beauty and strength that comes from being different, and refuses to let the negativity of others bring her down.
Throughout the poem, Hurston also touches on the concept of race and the ways in which it shapes our perceptions and experiences. She writes about how race can be both a source of pride and a source of conflict, and how it can shape our sense of identity in powerful and complex ways.
In the end, "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" is a celebration of self-love and self-acceptance in the face of adversity. It is a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, and a reminder that we are all beautiful and worthy, no matter who we are or where we come from.
