PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A poet who recently received praise from Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for her viral poem reflects on the importance of having representation of women of color in the White House.
Leslé Honoré, author of the viral poem, “Brown Girl, brown girl,” says in this poem, she’s acknowledging history in the making as Harris is on her way to the White House. She was inspired to rewrite her 2017 poem to reflect the onset of a new era for Black and Brown girls in 2020.
“There was something about a Brown and Black woman — a Black and Asian woman who is unapologetic about being Black and Indian — that’s what representation looks like,” Honoré said.
The poem was written three days after the election and posted on her social media. It went viral immediately.
She believes her poem is circling the globe because Harris being in the White House can be celebrated by little girls everywhere.
And what does Honoré want youth in Philadelphia to know?
“My message to young girls in Philadelphia is, never be limited to what other people tell you you can do. You can do whatever you put your mind to,” she said.