“To be woman and black is to be born knowing
your beauty does not belong to you.”
Congratulations to Crystal & Aaliyah on topping 500,000 views on this amazing poem. Check out another collaboration between the two poets here.
And while you’re here, make sure to check out our other books and merch as well, including our awesome t-shirts and poster and new books by Jacqui Germain, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Aaron Coleman!
Best of 2016 #8:
Crystal Valentine & Aaliyah Jihad – “Hide Your Shea Butter”
“It’s not that we don’t trust white people. It’s that y’all
really think my black looks better on you.”
Heading into the new year, we’re counting down the top-viewed videos on Button from 2016! Coming in eighth on the list, “Hide Your Shea Butter” by Crystal Valentine & Aaliyah Jihad. Congratulations poets!
Note: This countdown list only covers a small fraction of the brilliant artists who let us share their work on our channel this year, and is by no means a definitive list of the “best” poems, simply the ones that got the most views. Take some time and check out more from the past year on our channel!
Performing at CUPSI 2016.
“It’s not just that you take what we create, it’s that it always gets
lost in translation.”
Don’t miss this excellent poem from Crystal Valentine and Aaliyah Jihad, performing at the 2016 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational. You can check out more from Crystal and Aaliyah here, here and here.
While you’re here, head over to the Button store to check out our books and merch, including Button t-shirts in both female and unisex cuts, and books and more by many of your favorite Button artists.
“I grew up learning how to protect men who hate me.”
Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button Playlist, featuring the hottest recent videos on the Button YouTube channel. Updated every week! Today’s additions: Crystal Valentine, Aaliyah Jihad, and Ellyn Touchette. Congratulations poets!