The Weakness
by Toi Derricotte
‘The Weakness’ appears in Toi Derricotte’s third collection of poetry, Captivity (1989). This poem explores a light-skinned woman’s hesitation, weakness, and low self-esteem in a racially judgmental society.
Toi Derricotte is an American poet who was born in 1941. She is best known for her poetry books, including The Empress of the Death House and Captivity. She has won numerous literary awards throughout her career and imbued her work with her personal experience.
‘The Weakness’ appears in Toi Derricotte’s third collection of poetry, Captivity (1989). This poem explores a light-skinned woman’s hesitation, weakness, and low self-esteem in a racially judgmental society.