Thanks to all the encouraging people in here.

I'm pretty vex that my friend won't come in here and post her own comments, but sod it, I have something to say.

Like my friend, I am black, a woman, and have overcome a lot of adversity and therefore feel I am well within my rights to identify myself as a Strong Black woman without expecting to be beaten down by the nearest black man.

And somebody, please, educate me as to how being a strong black woman, and/or knowing one's own worth, equates to "I'm too good for most black men"?

Sounds like some people here are insecure about their OWN worth, frankly.

I love black men, and I dream about finding the right one to spend the rest of my life with. But that does not mean I have to settle for the first man that comes along and treats me like crap. In my life I've been in love with a man who physically abused me, in a relationship with another who tried to emotionally abuse me, and one guy who tried to bleed me dry (financially). I don't believe that has anything to do with the fact that they were black. ANY man could treat a woman that way. It just so happens I was with BLACK men who treated me that way, because my preference is to be with a black man. My friend (who wrote the poem) also prefers black guys. I've seen some amazing, beautiful examples of black men and women in great relationships, and THAT is what I aspire to.

Why shouldn'twe choose to be with men who treat us like we're special, and important, and worth coming home to every day for the rest of their lives?

*kmt*

sorry, but I get vex when peopleimply that being proud of who you are and not allowing anyone to take that away from you makes you some kind of stuck up b!tch.