Last night I was trying to sleep and I couldn't stop thinking about the world we live in. I thought about my two children and a poem came to me. I want to share it with you. As a parent, we worry about our babies no matter how young or old they are. We want to protect them and keep them safe. We want them to be successful, educated, and better than we are. It's sad watching the news because it seems like hatred has engulfed us all. I pray for the families who have experienced injustice and their loved ones. I pray strength, encouragement, and wisdom for them all. I pray for our nation...we are lost. Sometimes I close my eyes and shake my head at the things going on, but I know that God is bigger than any weapon against us. It saddens me to know that there are some people in the world who doesn't see the same thing.
What are your thoughts on this matter????
Here are mine...
Dear Son & Daughter
Each
time you leave our home I tense up
Afraid
that you won’t be yourself when you return
So many like you never
made it back
I
become worried, anxious; unable to focus because of the unjust world we live in
Society
isn’t about being communal with your peers, laughing, talking, getting to know
one another for the person you are, the person your father and I have raised
you to be, anymore
It’s
mean, crude, full of prejudice; victimizing you for being born with skin
naturally kissed by the sun
It
teaches hate, discrimination, downright evil for no reason at all. Your ethnic
background shouldn’t determine whether you get stopped by the police or beaten
to death for standing up for your rights as a human being. It doesn’t matter if
you have on the latest shoes or clothing when someone wants to rid you of them.
Tell me, how one can
hate their brother who walks alongside them each day and love God whom they
have never seen? He created us all in His likeness and image.
I
know I shouldn’t feel these emotions when you are not with me because God
didn’t give us the spirit of fear
Yet,
my heart weeps as a parent when so many others like you didn’t make it back
home safely
Some
didn’t make it back at all, another victim slain in the streets
Their
innocence was stripped from them…maliciously stolen without shame, taken
without remorse, justified by corruption…released from any wrong doing.
But
it’s not just others I worry about; it’s the ones bearing the same skin tone as
yours. The ones who look like you, talk like you, dress like you and listen to
the same music. The ones who will say you don’t act black when you don’t act
the way they want you to act. The ones who call you “nigga” and overlook or
don’t care that the word “nigger” was meant to be degrading to our people. It’s
the same brown boy who you shoot hoop with and gets mad because he’s a sore
loser who pulls out a gun at the playground ending your future with a bullet.
It’s the same brown girl you had sleepovers with, polished your nails with,
played dolls with that grows into a young woman and can’t handle the fact that
the boy she likes, like you because you respect yourself; she decides to damage
your character by slandering your name spreading lies about you sleeping with
him.
I
pray hard each and every day for your safety, your sanity, and your salvation
hoping that no one steals it away from you for simply being who I birthed you
into this world as
Sweethearts,
permission isn’t required to steal the life of an innocent brown girl or boy,
woman or man for that matter, the act is carried out no questions asked later, nonetheless
justice goes undone
Are you that much of a
threat?
Yes,
and don’t allow anyone to tell you differently!
Your
intelligence is profound.
Your
beauty is undeniable.
Your
passion for succeeding in life is astounding
Making
you a weapon, that will change our future in amazing ways.
Believe
in yourself, I say.
Be
respectable and kind.
Be
honest and be aware of your surroundings.
Watch
the company you keep.
The
speech I give before you go.
Should
I say, be quiet; hold your head down; don’t look anyone in the eyes?
Should
I say your opinion doesn‘t matter; turn the other cheek, look the other way, be
the bigger person?
Should
I give you permission to lose your self-respect, self-worth, and self-esteem?
Will
this advice save your life, get you back home to me and your father?
Will
this advice make you question your heritage or wish to be someone other than
who you are? Will this advice cause sadness, distain, and make you see me as
weak? Will this advice cause you to be bullied by your peers?
No…
But if so…we will get
through it together!
I
shall continue to tell you to love yourself enough to know who you are and whose you are. I shall continue to tell
you to speak boldly and proudly as a brown girl and brown boy. I shall tell you
to enter a room and command respect by the way you carry yourself. Be mindful,
be watchful; be wise in any situation. Think before you speak, listen before
reacting, and never put yourself in a position where it’s considered being a
coward if you walk away. I shall continue to tell you how much I love you, how
important you are to not only me and your father, but also this generation. Our
ancestors fought to make sure your life was better than theirs, and I’ll fight
to make sure yours in better than mine. I’ll pray over you and teach you how to
pray for yourself. We’ll pray together as a family.
You
are somebody and you should be proud of your brown hue, your textured hair,
full lips and defined nose. You should be proud of your culture, your history,
and genetic character. There is nothing wrong with developing the value of
appreciation by working hard for the things you have, instead of living with
the gift of expectation and privilege because entitlement.
You
shouldn’t be afraid to leave home, go hang out with friends, and constantly
look over your shoulder for fear that there is a target on your back. So live,
my son. Love, my daughter! Laugh until your side hurts and tears kiss your
cheeks because you are beautiful, you are incomparable; you are a child of God,
protected by His grace and mercy!
And
if anyone get it in their small minds that you will be targeted, punished, or
mistreated for being a brown girl or brown boy…I will fight for you no matter what
even if I have to go to hell and go toe to toe with the devil himself!!!
In
the words of the late great Tupac…“I ain’t a killa but don’t push ME!”
Sincerely,
Your
beautiful brown Mother
Until next time, Be Inspired, Be Encouraged, & Be You!!!
Purple Hugs,
KeKe Chanel
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