_
And so I scratch at the skin I was given,
Skin that is pale and they see as somehow purer,
But it doesn’t change to the colour I desire.
A stark red instead appears –
bloodborne,
As if to say:
Again, I will fail you.
Again, I will not fulfil you.
How can you tell me:
‘it’s what’s on the inside that counts’,
when you, too,
judge on our colouring?
I see my tiddas and I am in awe of their strength,
their pride.
I join in their fight against colourism,
and admire how they see past my shade.
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We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Woroni, Woroni Radio and Woroni TV are created, edited, published, printed and distributed. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and emerging. We acknowledge that the name Woroni was taken from the Wadi Wadi Nation without permission, and we are striving to do better for future reconciliation.