NEW DELHI, Nov 15: The Indian-American woman who has made history in America
by becoming the first woman Vice-President is being serenaded on the social
media with a 'Brown Girl, Brown Girl...' poem. She is gradually turning into
an icon, an inspiration for the young girls of colour as also for all the little
girls around the world.
The "Brown Girl" poem was written by Lesle Honore, a Chicago poet, in celebration
of Kamala Harris becoming the Vice-President of the US. It was shared by Honore
on her Instagram page along with an image of Harris inspiring her niece Meena
Harris' younger daughter Amara Ajagu in her lap that she could become the President
when she reaches the age.
Harris had also told the audience in her victory speech, “While I may be the
first woman in this office, I will not be the last, because every little girl
watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
The poem is an imitation and a play on Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle's children's
book, 'Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?.' The book was designed to help
toddlers learn by association. It was written by Bill Martin Jr and illustrated
by Eric Carle in 1967.
Lesle Honore's adaptation:
Brown girl, brown girl
What do you see
I see a Vice President
That looks like me
Brown girl, brown girl
What do you do
I fought, I hoped, I spoke,
What was true
Brown girl, brown girl,
What do you know
That there are strong women
Who want me to grow
Brown girl, brown girl,
What do you feel
That #blackgirlmagic
Will help us all heal
Brown girl, brown girl
What do you see
A world that sees my skin
Before it sees me
Brown girl, brown girl,
Whatcha gonna do
March, fight and create
Till I make this world new
Brown girl, brown girl
How are you so strong
'Cause I got Queens in my blood
To help push me along
A Brooklyn-based school principal has already posted a video of students reciting
the poem in their classroom (SEE video).
