Somewhere in the Middle of Vanilla and Chocolate

Walk into a room
All eyes on me
At least that’s how it feels
I’m chocolate in a sea of vanilla

It’s nothing new
That’s how I grew up
But it wasn’t always this easy

You see, as a kid
I was constantly reminded of my flavor
I just figured it was something to savor
But I didn’t really fit in
With all of my vanilla friends
And I could only see one difference therein

I’m chocolate in a sea of vanilla

One day Ms. Brown
Stood me in front of the mirror
“What do you see?”
“This chocolate looks ugly on me!”

“Look again my child
There is so much more
Your chocolate is beauty and strength
Nothing you should abhor.”

From that day forward
My confidence arose
“My goodness I’m sexy!
I’m sure everyone knows.”

I’m chocolate in a sea of vanilla

As I grew up more chocolate came around
“This is great!
I don’t feel left out
Finally someone that looks like me
That’s actually not my family.”
As usual, things weren’t that easy

I’m vanilla in a sea of chocolate

“You’re not hood
You talk too vanilla
Your flavor is too chocolate”
Why all of this guerilla
Warfare on my character?

I’m vanilla in a sea of chocolate

I quickly learned
To be confident in myself
No more giving other’s thoughts life
“Well, Who are you then?”
Let me tell you my friend

I’m uniquely me
Carlton Banks
With the Polo Tee
Some plaid shorts
And deck shoes

No Tom Jones
Just hip-slappin Gospel
Intelligent
Creative
Musician

Man, I could keep going
There’s so much to say
I guess you’ll have to
Get to know me

Grey suit on
Pink hanky in the pocket

I’m somewhere in the middle of vanilla and chocolate

• Jarrod  Brown © 2015