My name is Lemi Ghariokwu and I am not black. I am an African. I do not call Indians brown or the Chinese pale yellow or any colour for that matter. Why then should I be seen as ‘A Black Man’?. I am not BLACK.
Strip the colour from the label. I do not believe in labels but if you must label me please call me African. The fact that my skin is dark is a blessing. It’s proof that I can endure tough situations and come out unscathed. When the skin is stripped off, what colour is the skeleton? Is it different from yours?
I am a human being first, then I am African, born, bred and buttered in Lagos. I am proud of my culture. I am not ashamed to be seen as African because only I determine how you treat me.
I have broken free from the slavery mentality. I tell you my name is Lemi Ghariokwu and you call me Lemi Ghariokwu. Now, I am telling you I am not black, I am African and you must address me accordingly.
Lemi Ghariokwu, the conscious African.
Image by @FabAfricans
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