Poem to my white brother

"Dear white brother,
When I was born, I was black,
When I grew up, I was black,
When I am in the sun, I am black,
When I am sick, I am black,
When I die, I will be black.
While you, white man,
When you were born, you were pink,
When you grew up, you were white,
When you go in the sun, you are red,
When you are cold, you are blue,
When you are scared, you are green,
When you are sick, you are yellow,
When you die, you will be grey.
So, between you and me,
Who is the colored man?"


Léopold Sedar Senghor (1906 - 2001)
Senegalese writer and political man.

translation: Luc Normandin
painting © George Sévère Masse