The scariest thing
about being a black woman in America is also the most beautiful thing about
being a black woman in America. One day, I might give birth to a beautiful
black boy. For me, I’ve already experienced that, almost 5 years ago. I gave birth
to my little black Prince, who will one day be a king. And that is beautiful.
However, one day my
little black Prince will realize that everyone doesn’t see him that way. See
right now I can shelter him from it, hover over him, guard him and protect him
from it, but one day I won’t be able to. One day he’ll grow up and one day he’ll
face this world as a black man, and that scares me.
How do you prepare a
child for a world that hates him? A world that only likes him if he’s on a
basketball court or on a football field, performing.
How do you prepare a
child to face a world that makes drugs, guns and alcohol so accessible, but a
higher education almost impossible? How do you prepare him?
How do you tell him
that the very police force he looks up to, might gun him down in broad day
light, even while surrendering? How do you tell him if he ever gets in a car
accident to just stay in the car, because the very door he knocks on might
answer with a shot gun ready to blow? What do you say to the child that wants
to walk to the store for candy and a drink on a cold night? Do you tell him no,
because a crazy neighborhood watchman might chase you down in your own
neighborhood and kill you?
You see my son, he
loves music, and he loves to hear it loud. How do I tell him he can’t play it
loud because it might upset someone and they might shoot up his vehicle and
run?
How do I tell my innocent
baby, that America would rather see him dead, or see him in jail over living a
productive life.
I can’t tell my son
that!! I can’t prepare him for that, and I shouldn’t have to!! It’s not fair,
none of that is fair! It’s not fair that there is a community of black mothers
and fathers, mourning together, because their babies were taken, their babies
were murdered in cold blood, by hatred and evil. That’s a community I never
want to be a part of. I never want to be able to personally relate to that kind
of pain.
So I put my “Hands up…….
Don’t… shoot!” looking towards heaven, surrendering my son into God’s hands
once again, asking for his protection, asking for him to keep him always,
asking him to help me raise, a black boy that sees his own value and importance
to this earth, even when the world says otherwise.
The bible says train
up a child in the way which he should go, and when he is old he will not depart
from it.
So to answer my own
question, “How do you prepare a child to face a world that hates him?” You
teach him to “seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all
these things shall be added unto you”. (Matthew 6:33) You teach him to “don’t
be weary in well doing, for in due season you shall reap if you faint not”. (Galatians
6:9) You teach him to “bless them that persecute
you and, pray for them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:28). You teach him “The
Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he
leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art
with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou prepares a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil, my cup
runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalms 23)
That is how we prepare our children, and remember,
After all, they hated
God’s son too.
If you love someone, tell them.
I love you.
Signed, a black mother who's proud to be raising a black prince.
