Zora Howard's Powerful Poem On Bi-Racial Hair | Must-watch (2024)

[@makenzileg]

"I’m not talking about that- cute they met then fell in love, blood. I’m talking about that slave raped six times by the master, birthing 6 mixed babies, later hung blood. I’m talking about that cross burning in the mud, blood. And you call me a mud blood? Slit my wrist, my blood does not excrete in black and white."

[@simplye3523]

Her name is Zora Howard. She was sixteen when she performed this poem in this video.

[@LisaRussellCreate2030]

Simply E She was actually 13!

[@lyniahcephas6483]

and she cursed lol

[@hardyfan22]

+Lisa Russell she didnt look it.

[@LisaRussellCreate2030]

She was actually 13. :)

[@TylerOakley]

Powerful.

[@bipbopcherryontop6256]

I'M NOT A FUCKIN COOKIE!!! Ahh I love this, so glad I found it again. Zora howard is a boss

[@sydriam999]

The poem is amazing and her delivery of the poem is outstanding.

[@ashniedesir7009]

Dammmmm. She told them! Yes girl. Let those ignorant people out there that assume black people have bad hair because its not dead striaght

[@CAB2402]

This is the hottest poem I have ever heard of my teacher. Showed us this in class once and I feel in love with this poem

[@n0societalnorms]

"I have biracial hair 'cause I have biracial blood. I'm not talkin' about that 'cute they met and fell in love' blood, I'm talkin' about that slave raped six times by the massa, birthin' six mixed babies, later hung blood. I'm talkin' about that cross burning in the mud blood-and you call me a mud blood? Slit my wrists-my blood does not excrete in black and white! I dream in verse and in red, like what dripped from Emmett Till's lip when he was killed for breaking down color lines."

[@ActingTheDream]

Wow! I've seen this video several times and never realized it was Zora Howard! She's doing great things and she's going to school at Yale now! Good for her!

[@MsxDiMpLes]

I don't know who this girl is but I can honestly say I love her. Lol, I'm not even bi-racial but in just this short 3 minutes and 46 seconds she made me feel and understand her struggle and the kind of hell she's caught from all directions. She killed this.

[@nstruebluey39]

I love the power she put into this. "I'm not a FUCKIN' cookie, or a berry!" My favorite line, that tops it all.

[@nasssira3008]

I'm not a fucking cookie.

[@marissadaily]

I wish I knew how old she was! I wish I could have her passion! !

[@rhapsodyswept]

I am SO addicted to finding really good spoken word on KZbin and this...this gave me chills. Straight up truth.

[@MadPavlovian]

That was powerful, particularly for one so young. When your words can touch the heart of someone who has never walked in shoes like yours, you know you've succeeded.

[@becathist]

This brought tears to my eyes. As a biracial woman, I really felt this entire piece from front to back. Amazing.

[@silverlinedheart]

She is fantastic! There were tears in my eyes by the 'cookie' remark, she deserves all that praise the audience were giving her so much!

[@Simeafou27]

her delivery of this piece is priceless. she is gifted, her work is amazing.

[@lacywilmerton]

I watch this vid a lot every day, and everytime I start to cry! She's so good, and everything she says is so true.

[@manug20dt3]

"I am not a fucking cookie!" I love this line, I've been called an oreo before so I was like YES!Amazing

[@ChristopherShabazz]

This young Miss is very visual and Brought a Tear to my eye. I could realy see what she was speaking about. Good find...

[@myoralfixations]

DAAAAAAAAAYYYUUUMMMMM! How am I JUST now finding this?! WHAT! This was insane! This needs more views!

[@lildee1726]

Being bi-racial myself I see where this comes from and its the truth...BIG UPS TO WHO WROTE IT AND TO ZORA FOR PERFORMING IT!!!!! Loved it

[@beautifulbianca18]

All I can say is I LOVED the poem and the way she delivered it. Although I am not mixed with black and white, I am Black, Jamaican, Bahamian, American Indian and Chinese and I can relate to everything she says about bi-racial hair. The smooth hair in the front and the nappy hair in the back. THE POEM WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MsShakeyla]

Her name is Zora Howard. She is now with a group called Strivers Row. They travel the world doing spoken word. They are all AMAZING.

[@ashleeylovee297]

Goosebumps.

[@SableYork]

wOw. that was amazing. i am not going to make this about me, like most of these commentators are doing, because you were talking about yourself and in the process giving a voice to people like you. again, that was amazing. i loved it.

[@MissTinaRibena]

By far the best poem I have EVER come across! this should be published!

[@uniquetdixon5009]

THIS THIS AND THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell them. My heart was racing, she is full of confidence & knowledge

[@skkybaby]

Wow. That was so good and truthful. I got goosebumps on my arms half way through her speech. Keep using your voice. She's really talented.

[@wenefredb3181]

Thank you!! That was damn good!

[@Meneetalents]

Girl..i love the way you present this...i love it!!

[@b2223967]

AWESOME! I just moved to NYC and if it hasn't passed yet, I must attend the 09competition... especially if this is the sort of great young talent that turns up! GREAT Job young lady!

[@imsonicy]

WOW!! I applaud these young kids because this is a time where most young people are to busy trying to live this superstar lifestyle that doesn't really exist and are so confused about what life is really supposed to be about but these have found the TRUTH and they have realized it at a young age! VERY INSPIRATIONAL

[@aprilnc94]

"till it gets to the back and....... breaks". lmao. she is good

[@SweetToothJunkie]

Her name is Zora Howard. She is an adult now. Here is one of her poems but there are more on KZbin as well. youtube dot com/watch?v=YsyQ1HUjO90

[@SLC1289]

ive been in love with this poem since some1 showed it to me in fall of '06. love love love it. relatable to so many people!

[@b2223967]

This piece is about SO much more than hair. It's also about fustrations that come with her ethnicity. Little fustrations like trying to comb and style her hair... to big fustrations like not finding nething about ur roots in the school textbook, being teased, and ridiculed. called an oreo (black outside, white inside) or a berry (the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice)... I love this poem

[@yazzieboo7]

THIS GAVE ME GOOSEBUMPS...amazing poet!

[@OnyxCMB]

I can never get tired of watching this video, she's awsome!!!

[@seriusblack18]

I watch this poem like a million times a day no joke. I love this girl.

[@JerimahWilson]

I don't think Anyone can top this 🏁🏁👍

[@truthbetold89]

I love people who are proud of who they are.

[@Janay23]

It's been year since I saw this, but it still gives me chills.

[@maximumridelife4me]

That line about Emmett Tills gave me the chills

[@VibrantCultureHaven]

from one poet to another.. tht was really heart felt..

[@CoolThingGG]

Lol.."Back 10 feet up or we can dance naps.."..lmfao...I love it. She's really damn good.

[@starr131]

this was a few years ago when she did this. she was like thirteen she's evolved now. she has alot more power in her words and control over her performance

[@Janay23]

i love this poem ,this girl was off the chain!!! i watch all the time and i always get hype when she says " IM NOT A FUCKIN COOKIE OR A BERRY!!! it s the best poem i had ever heard, my propps goes goes out to you girl ,you did your thang!!

[@cetriyasArtnComicsChannel]

child of 2 haitian parents, still got called an oreo and still with the 'good hair'. No its called a relaxer and its called not burning your roots when you get it done. And 'straight' hair is not the only 'good' hair.

[@Roumaynecute]

i donno but am i the only one that got chills listening to this poem...daamn!!!

[@JaeChristineOfficial]

Outstanding

[@GenuinelyGiGi]

biracial hair is just as beautiful as kinky/coily/nappy hair and it is just as beautiful as wavy, curly, straight hair. embrace ur whole head of hair....not just the part that won't break the comb! YOU GOT SKILLZ GURL!

[@rellzdrelic]

That poet was amazing! I'm pretty sure a lot of our Latino brothers and sisters felt her too. I'm not bi-racial but I stood up for that truth!

[@Ryojiin]

Wow. Just wow. Give that girl a medal or something, she truly should be a voice for kids her age. Not beaten down, or using her bi-racial heritage to get special treatment. Stand up for yourself! Be proud of yourself! Love yourself! Great girl!

[@TheEmpressJade]

this is zora howard... much older now but still every bit of an amazing poet!

[@ReenaAlter]

Her name is Zora Howard and you can youtube her name or go to the Strivers Row youtube page. :)

[@123mikkina]

this was one of the best spokin words i have ever heard. she is very very good. i give her many props for this one

[@DanofDodorpia]

I love at the beginning when she uses the combing of the hair to illustrate the history of black people. Going from a very slick and cool modern day image back to the slave trade where treatment of black people was less than human. Great poet. I don't think she's being racist... either way it's a great poem!!

[@Frankherb1985]

Amazingly talented, gifted young girl

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Damn, wish I could summon that kind of courage to do my own poems! Great energy!

[@PrKid718]

'im not a f***ing cookie' lol yo that line is crazyyyy!i rewind it like 5 times,and probably more after this comment,lol..she did good! Props!

[@Charmedelam]

"Step 10 feet back or we dance naps"...... Can't help but love it

[@BeautifulDreamer84]

"i aint no f*ucking cookie" lol classic I feel ya girl. i dread every morning when its time to do my hair

[@mzvanity09]

PREEEAAAAAAACH!!!!!......i know exactly what you talkin bout!!! youve got talent

[@sashasparroww]

that was like... moving. she has a really powerful voice, both in writing and through speech.

[@kingtut314]

This young lady gave me goose bumps...wow

[@l0veyb1rd]

"I AM NOT A FUCKING COOKIE OR A BERRY!" I feeeeeeeel dat line. Dis whole poem is BOD, and from such a you woman, i can relate on every level....cant wait to hear more.

[@summernight86]

Seen this years ago and still love it.

[@jghoward12]

I LOVE THIS VIDEO! I watch it whenever i'm in a bad mood. i love that im not the only one who's been compared to a cookie :) "back 10 ft up or we can dance"

[@JenniferClaudeMusic]

*shivers* Powerful words... Peace & Love

[@1BRWNSKN]

If she wrote this, I have a profound respect for her.

[@MsMizzjulie]

She has a lot of passion, I don't know her story or how ppl treated her. But it obviously hurt her feelings rather they were just joking or not. It looks like the experience she had saying her poem gave her a nice relief.

[@frastednubianess]

This Girl was so good! absolutely amazing, inspiring, damn! she got it! i hope she won...

[@christaiki]

WOW! She almost brought tears to my eyes with her power. DEEP! DEEP!

[@LavCBeauty]

she really rocked that poem....she gonna be something big!

[@joaobrandjr]

Oh man! This girl is freak great at the stage! 13 years? No kidding! She is the best!

[@Mariah203]

I'm not bi-racial, just black, but I can definetly relate to those "back 10 feet up or we can dance" naps! LOVED THIS POEM!!!!

[@annamichelle1416]

Wow. ❤️very powerful. 🌺

[@mercurialkk]

It has been years since I first saw this, and I have yet to find a poem which moves me like this one does.

[@bibbiana4Lyfe]

Focus on improving your own self rather than others and you"ll make the world a better place. Hugs, Rainbows and Smooches to you!

[@Blacklilo17]

i remember sitting there while she was spitting her poem and going wild when she said the thing about the two braids because that's what i had since my mother couldn't do anything else with it lmao. she is truly amazing :)

[@oreobutterfly420]

i watched this five times... you are a amazing girl. im mixed and i literally laughed and cried. loved it.ive come to terms with the cookie jokes:)

[@ThABxBoRoUgH]

PREACH!! that was just amazing. this girl has got talent.

[@gamalielgooding]

This is one talented and gifted young woman. I am sure that she have many more talents, but I hope she never lay this one aside.

[@polomanlevirockinboi]

her hair is flippin beautiful and her poem mama went nuts

[@ABBAyaga]

i love u zora! u are amazing. your scene on friday was amazing too.

[@selfexplanatorychiq]

omg i loved it i know some kids with biracial hair but i never knew or thought of how it may feel when others make fun of them they never say anyting just smile thats amazing to me her renatment considering that i too am 15

[@aljd11]

this poem is FRICKIN AMAZZZZING AND SOOOO TRUE!!! dude this was deep. im biracial and trust me, my hair is extremely biracial looking!!!!! lol.... this was awesome and i give major praise to that girl for doing such a great job performing it!!

[@bigchris23]

this girl is on fire she is so raw. to message is so powerful.

[@CYaya88]

Too much skill Im in awe! Beyond amazing..... WOW Soo much real emotion....thats real emotion right there....forget poetry...this is REAL TALK! WORD!

[@gathan1990]

She was 13 at the time?! Future Def Poet for sure, absolutely phenominal! Lets get some of that Def Poetry over to England sometime! :D

[@mxddesire3]

I LOVE THIS! Im biracial and understand exactly where she is coming from. Its so true!

[@nickib7294]

I'm light skinned and get passed off as white a lot. Then people find out I'm mixed and say things like "Oh yeah, I can tell because of the hair" and if they they think that might offend me "oh I just thought you had a nice tan".

[@justicecarly]

yes im moved to tears...i too have bi racial hair and am bi racial...she really told our story...as a bi racial woman and as a blackwoman.

[@mizmoni]

Little Darling you have Genius of Supernova proportions!:-)) I´m hugging you with my tears.

[@melite78]

Ms. Russell thanks for posting this

[@PoeticSongstress]

This poem is too wonderful! I'm jealous...FOR REAL!

[@JunkyardGhost]

I loved this. It touches on everything that I went through in middle/high school. I swore that if someone called me an oreo one more time I would freak.

[@tasha24turner]

caityttt she's 13 i love this just outstanding