I grew up with a Father who staunchly supported my dreams no matter how silly or unrealistic. My dreams were filled with bright lights, big screens, and Broadway bill boards bearing my name! When I wanted to be a Singer, my Daddy let me play my records as loud as I wanted. When I thought I would be the first female Break Dancer to make it big, my Daddy brought home the biggest cut of card board he could find. As my dreams moved to being a Rapper, he bought me a microphone, notebooks, and never winced when I scratched up our records trying to D.J. in our tiny Living Room. I knew without a doubt I could reach the stars, so of course when I began raising my kids I even went a step further. I’ve been Team Mom too many times to count, Assistant Basketball Coach, loudest Mother in the stands, snack person and transportation. 3 of my sons loved sports and wanted to be bigger than Michael Jordan, Kobe, the Barber twins, etc., and my 4th son found his gift in academics. He was the only one who never expressed his dreams or talked about what he wanted to be when he grew up.
Then one day, my son told me he wanted to be the first Black President of the United States of America. I shook my head in agreement and support of his dream knowing I was telling him a lie!
I knew this country, with all its freedoms, democracy, beauty, and protection of its own, this unspeakably wonderful land of opportunity for all men of all races would allow my son to be anything he was capable of reaching for, but President was not one of them.
I hoped and prayed my son would find another dream to strive for. One without a meaningless purpose. As my son entered High School he did shift his focus. Even he opened his eyes realizing he may never see a Black President of the United States in his life time.
So, today as I intently scrutinize the Presidential election, I stand speechless, proud, shameful, and vindicated. Shameful that I didn’t have enough confidence in America to believe I would see a Black President and vindicated that I no longer have to lie. When my little Nephews and Nieces tell me they want to grow up and be President, I can look them straight in the eyes and PROUDLY tell them they can be anything they want to be……… including President of the United States of America…Let’s vote for a Change We Can Believe In.
~GodSpeed~
Latoya
