A Mon Frere Blanc

by Léopold Sedar Senghor (Senegalese poet and president)

Cher frère blanc,

Quand je suis né, j’étais noir,

Quand j’ai grandi, j’étais noir,

Quand je suis au soleil, je suis noir,

Quand je suis malade, je suis noir,

Quand je mourrai, je serai noir.

Tandis que toi, homme blanc,

Quand tu es né, tu étais rose,

Quand tu as grandi, tu étais blanc,

Quand tu vas au soleil, tu es rouge,

Quand tu as froid, tu es bleu,

Quand tu as peur, tu es vert,

Quand tu es malade, tu es jaune,

Quand tu mourras, tu seras gris.

Alors, de nous deux,

Qui est l’homme de couleur ?

~~~

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 us,

Who is the colored man?