Dear Kid,

I know you have been watching the news lately and seeing children who look you get suspended from school for wearing styles that are not considered normal. And although you may not know it, I know that you are slowly but surely starting to think that something is wrong with you. You probably are starting to think that the color of your skin makes you inferior and that your hair and the way that you dress will never be accepted by society. As much as I hate to tell you this, you are right. Society will never accept you and will always criticize something that you do. They will tell you that your skin is far too dark to be beautiful and that your natural hair is ugly and needs to be straightened. They will tell you that your haircut is "ugly" and not normal. They will say that you don't speak proper English and call you uneducated no matter how many degrees you get.

Although they will never accept you, it is important that you accept and appreciate yourself. Please know that your melanin is beautiful and glowing in absolutely every shade and that your natural hair is strong, gorgeous and versatile. Appreciate your haircuts even when society doesn't because they make you unique. Love the way that you speak and never change it because even if it isn't considered "proper" it makes you who you are and connects you to your culture. And never believe them when they say that you are uneducated. People of color get degrees just as much as every one else, it just isn't recognized or celebrated as much.

Always remember that your were built to last. Your ancestors have overcome so many trials and tribulations and you can and will do the same. You can't do that, however, if you let society make you feel inferior and cause you to settle for less, so never listen to society. Love yourself, love your people and keep in mind that society is threatened by you otherwise so much effort would not be spent on trying to tear you down. Use their criticism to motivate you, prove them wrong and show them (and yourself) that BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL.