In this beautiful poem and short film, poet Grace Salvant navigates an internal struggle about a fleeting encounter with a white man.

Many Black women are taught to only view Black men as romantic partners. "Like most Black women, I was conditioned to pledge allegiance to the Black man," Salvant told For Harriet via email. "That he already has enough on his plate so I should be his primary support system. That dating outside my race was a betrayal to my ancestors."
Though she's forged her own views on partnership, Salvant still experiences conflicted feelings about the encounter.

"The poem really just captures my excitement which was halted by my hesitance, trapped by my reluctance, wrapped up by, what I know now to be, a false sense of guilt," she said.


Photo: YouTube