I don’t think about my skin Very often, although it is a colour That has provoked a reaction in others Both negative and at times
Patronisingly positive Because my ethnicity might look Like a really nice sun tan But it isn’t a really nice sun tan.
Living in a cosmopolitan town or city I am just another person Of little interest Or consequence
A far cry I suppose From a childhood in which I was the only brown kid in the school And the other kids called me ‘Chocolate Face’
I don’t blame them They were infants And it was the eighties When casual racism was acceptable
But to the adults who I turned to for help I would just say The following advice is less than helpful To an emotional and frightened Five year old boy
“Call them something back”
“It could be worse – everyone likes chocolate”
“Stop telling tales”
To the kids I would, however, point out That they got the colour wrong I’m not the colour of chocolate If anything I’m more the colour Of toffee or possibly coffee
It does make me lament the state Of the education system In Thatcher’s Britain If children back then Were unable to make Such obvious distinctions When it comes to colour
I know there is a serious message in your words but I found your last stanza amusing. Pardon my reaction but I can imagine children in the playground:
“Chocolate”
“You do not know your colours, I am more like coffee”
The other child walks off puzzled.
My husband is there with you. Or as CSLewis so aptly put is in his intro to Screwtape Letters, the door into hell has the sign hanging over it marked “ADMIN” Time for me to get ready for my foray into middle school. God bless your day.
Welcome to James Proclaims – a blog that catalogues the whimsy of a man who probably should know better but who seems determined to demonstrate that he doesn’t.
James Proclaims! 
10 responses to “Chocolate Face”
Children need to be taught to love the richness of our hues! Lovely!
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“Patronisingly positive” 🙂
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I know there is a serious message in your words but I found your last stanza amusing. Pardon my reaction but I can imagine children in the playground:
“Chocolate”
“You do not know your colours, I am more like coffee”
The other child walks off puzzled.
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If I had my time again that is exactly how it would play out…
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haha, I can imagine.
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And by the way, how is your new job reforming the educational coming along? (They are very fortunate to have you.)
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The bit where I teach kids is great. The bit where I have to deal with other teachers is less great…
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My husband is there with you. Or as CSLewis so aptly put is in his intro to Screwtape Letters, the door into hell has the sign hanging over it marked “ADMIN” Time for me to get ready for my foray into middle school. God bless your day.
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Unfortunately not just in Britain or in Thatcher’s time. I do hope things are better now worldwide. For all kids
Well done post.
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