you don’t have to be me, to read me

you don’t have to understand me, to read me

you don’t have to look like me to read me

all I want is for you to read me knowing these things

you may read me because of these things and that’s fine

you may read me as a result of these things and that’s fine

you may not want to read me because of these things and that’s fine too

but you do have to know these things before you read me

They are all labels that define me

I am young

I am black

I am a Christian

I am a female

I am a young black woman

I am a Christian female

I am a black woman

I am a black Christian

I am a young woman

I am a single Christian

I am a single female

I am a young black single Christian female

~ allthingsmiss

does it change how you read me?

you don’t have to be me, to read me

I would prefer you read my words

some of the things about me, you can tell by simply looking at me

_{being young, black and a female}

other things you learn as you get to know

_{single and a Christian}

some change while others forever remain

ultimately, all of these things do define me

I can’t be afraid to show you who that is

even if I hide behind my words

I can’t hide me, from me