I am a black woman, my dad is black, my spouse is black, and I am raising a BLACK son! It is very easy for people who have not gone through what black people have been through for hundreds of years to tell you how you should feel, how you should act, and what you should get over! Especially when nothing has changed and we are still dying at the hands of other people, who feel our lives are not valuable.
We are born feeling like we have to dim our light to make others feel comfortable. As young girls, we are raised to treat everyone with respect, be nice, smile, don't wear this or it will make people uncomfortable, don't act too grown, and don't be too loud. Then we grow up as women and you have to adjust that email, watch our tone, don't be too assertive, don't be too difficult, don't be too aggressive or you will be labeled the angry black woman. I am black, educated, respectful, assertive, a protector, I work hard for everything I have, and I don't walk around smiling all day and that is perfectly okay! The older I get the more I realize that it is not my job to make others comfortable.
I come from strong women, I have been raised on love, taught to be respectful and kind to EVERYONE. I raise my son to be himself and respectful, but never let anyone mistreat him! I am raising a strong black boy, who will grow up to be a strong black fearless man! I will always speak love and beauty into him and his skin color!
-signed a black mama
