The other day I was listening to one of my favorite albums, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," when her song "To Zion," which is a tribute to her first born son, started playing. Since I was a child, I've loved this song, the lyrics are very deep and powerful and Lauryn Hill does an amazing job detailing her pregnancy experience. However, now that I am currently pregnant, with a son, this song has taken on a whole new meaning. Especially the line, in verse two, where she says, "now let me pray to keep you from the perils that will surely come see life for you my prince has just begun." After hearing that line, I immediately thought, "Damn. I'm having a son. A black son. And I'm bringing him into a world that preys on black men."
If you've been following Black Lives Matter and truly understand the purpose of this movement then you know that most African Americans in the United States live with the underlying fear of police brutality. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that other races don't also suffer from police brutality. However, it has been proven, several times, that when a person is black, altercations with the police are more likely to result in death. Not only is it more likely, sadly, it’s expected. Right now, I don’t know any black person, male or female, who can say, “if the police stop me, I’m confident that I will walk away with my life.”
Because of this, I'm fearful for my son's life. He's not even born, yet I already wonder, will he live to see his 18th birthday? Or will his life get cut short simply because the color of his skin isn't light enough?
So, to my unborn black child, I’m sorry. Not because you exist, I'm sorry because I selfishly decided to bring you into a world that will label you "aggressive, intimidating and bad" because of the color of your skin. I'm sorry for bringing you into a world that will rather see you behind the bars of a jail cell than behind the desk of a college university. I'm sorry because systematic racism ensures that even if you graduate with honors and earn a Ph.D., you will still be denied certain scholarships and job opportunities.
But, even though you have all of these things going against you, I want you to remember that it doesn't matter what the world labels you, what matters is how you label yourself. And baby, you are important and you are worthy! Don't ever let the prejudices of this world hold you back. Dream big, and create your own opportunities. Never let the color of your skin hold you back, you might belong to a group of "minorities" but you are far from minor. You are descended from the rhythmic bass of Chuck Berry's guitar and the soulful words of Martin Luther King Jr.'s lips. Creativity and intelligence flow through your veins, so how could you not be great?
