Month: February 2019

I Miss the 90’s & A Different World

I Miss the 90s is a new series that I am starting to talk about what I miss from growing up in the 1990s. Do you miss A Different World?

In the 1990’s, there were a ton of sitcoms and movies starring African Americans.  They were given different roles that depicted the diverse backgrounds of all black people.  As a little black girl growing up in this time, this was exciting.  I was able to see people that looked like me living their fictional life on a television show and not just as a sad looking case on the Evening News or Cops.

Black people weren’t only given the roles of the house maid or the drug dealer.  We were doctors, lawyers, beauticians, teachers, and stock brokers.  We were shown to be business women that still had a life outside of work.  We were students trying to have a voice in America and trying to make a difference in the world.

A Different World, was a spin-off of the classic Cosby Show.  It featured the fictional college of Hillman.  Seeing all of those young, hip, black students, thrilled me and I too wanted to attend.  I didn’t know it was made up; I just wanted to experience that type of college life one day.  A Different World was a show that was ahead of its time. It showcased the many ups and downs that come with being a college student.  What made it even more special was that the characters were brown like me.  Black like me, whatever; they were African American like me.  These students were trying to navigate  through the rocky and sometimes unstable waters of friendship and on time graduation.  They were finding love and learning about who they were and wanted to be.  Has there ever been a successful television show that displayed young adults in college?  Not interns, but as actual students.

After Season 1, the show changed it’s focus from Lisa Bonet’s character, Denise Huxtable, to the spoiled, southern, and sheltered Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) and the determined, and sometimes uncertain, flip-up glasses wearing Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison).  Their journey of love brought more humor to an already hilarious show.  Sprinkled throughout the story lines of Whitley and Dwayne, were issues affecting black people in the world at the time like  HIV/AIDS, the injustice of Apartheid in South Africa, Interracial Dating, racial profiling, and the moral decision to continue to be financially supported by companies or organizations that don’t support YOU.  These were issues discussed in the early 90’s, but what’s changed?

With the direction of Debbie Allen, this show helped to make its black viewers even more proud to be black.  For the non-black viewers it taught many lessons on the rights and privileges that are not always easily given, based on the brownness of ones’ skin but with a youthful and mature perspective.   A Different World helped to celebrate the African American’s place in this country by showing that our history didn’t start with slavery and “the struggle”.  That we will continue to make our mark in this country and around the world.  Because of this show, many people were introduced to the dancing style of Alvin Ailey, to the beautifully talented acting chops of Diahann Carroll*, and the power of Step and camaraderie within the African American Fraternities/Sororities.

A Different World was a show before its time.  A realistic story on the plights of the educated African American.  Before the days of social media and internet stardom, young people wanted to achieve the American Dream by going to college and allowing education to “take them places”.  I desired to attend college because of A Different World. Hey TV Writers, please bring back the trend of television shows that inspired young people to dream of being successful with their brain and hard-work. Not just from going viral.

Then and Now
Now along with Debbie Allen and Lisa Bonet
Diahann Carroll
Diahann Carroll as “Julia”
Diahann Carroll as Whitley Gilbert’s mother
Diahann Carroll as Dominique Deveraux on the show Dynasty
An Alvin Ailey Dancer

*Diahann Carroll had her own television sitcom, Julia, where she played a single parent and a nurse.  Many believed she was a  white woman with brown make-up on because she was thought to be too beautiful to really be a black woman.  She was also starred in the show Dynasty.

Catch A Different World on Amazon Prime.  Thank you for reading.  Like, Comment, Share, and Subscribe.

All images of Diahann Carroll found on Pinterest, Diahann-Carroll.com, IMDB

Images of A Different World found on Pinterest and its-a-different-world.com

 

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Onion Salad

They got the newest iPhone, but they smellin all wrong. Got them Beats and they bringin the heat. DE-O-DE-RANT needed here please!

Daily I am cursed with the sometimes fatal aroma of Onion Salad.  I didn’t even know Onion Salad was a real thing, until I saw it online.  I don’t understand it as a meal and I don’t understand why Johnnie, Jamal, Jasmine, and Johanna are still coming to my classroom smelling like it.  They come into the room and knock me out with their loud, intrusive, and unforgivable odor.  I black out for at least 30 seconds, I know I do.  It’s like my life, my feelings, and my nostrils aren’t important.  Am I supposed to just ignore and tolerate?  Not today Satan!  Not Ever!

No one wants to smell the onions permeating from beneath your child’s arm pits.  These kids are coming to school smelling like grown men that work outdoors in the heat.  They stopped smelling cute two years ago.  You know you smelled them when they walked past you this morning.  You know you noticed it.  That wasn’t you you were smelling (I hope), that was them…your baby.  Yes, they’re bodies are maturing now.

They got the newest iPhone, but they smellin all wrong.

 

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Got them Beats, and they bringin the heat.

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They got on them Jordans, but smellin like Gorton’s.  Mother’s teach your daughters before someone embarrasses them.

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Now, I do my best to explain to my students the importance of making sure that after they bathe with soap and hot or warm water, to dry off so that they mayest anoint their underarms with deodorant.  I believe it is selfish and rude of them to not do so.  They aren’t the only ones walking around the school.  Can I get an Amen?  Leave the body sprays and colognes alone, until you rub on that de-o-do-rant.  They need more than baby powder under them pits.

Why should I have to suffer every time they walk past me?  Come on parents! Teach your babies how to wash their clothes too, if you don’t have time to wash their clothing for them.  That same shirt or jacket or hoodie they were musty in, is still musty! 

Oh, you mad at me because I talked to your child about hygiene…who else is going to teach them?  Clearly you’re not.  I don’t want to hear about them being “bullied” and made fun of because other students are saying they smell bad.  Hey lady, hello sir, they do!

This is an easy fix.  They didn’t make themselves.  They didn’t ask to be here.  Help your baby…for everyone’s sake.  No more Onion Salad…I don’t want it and I didn’t order it!  Thanking You!

 

The Same 7

These 7 aren’t the only ones that have helped the black race in trying to “overcome some day”.

This might be late in the month, but I haven’t forgotten that February is Black History Month.  Being African American, I strongly believe that this month should not be the only time people of African descent are celebrated.  Black History is American History and World History.

With that being said, there is still time to roll out the red, green, and black. To walk with pride in the parades that showcase the talent and musicality of the bands of Historically Black Universities.  Bring on the African American History programs at schools and churches.  Many of our children will write essays detailing why they believe Dr. King’s dream has come to pass; and there will be many debates on why the N-word shouldn’t be used by anyone.  All of these activities that display pride and the betterment of our people are fine.  Though this month seems to be the only time we hear about the contributions African American’s have made, can we please turn the repeat button off and hear about others that have also added to our history?

The same 7 are on replay EVERY February.  Don’t get me wrong, I truly respect the work that Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass, Jackie Robinson, George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman, and the Obamas did.  Their sacrifices allow much of the liberties we live by today, but there are others that have made great achievements too.  These 7 aren’t the only ones that have helped the black race in trying to “overcome some day”.

Lonnie Johnson

Think about it, what would summer be like if it weren’t for the genius behind the infamous Super Soaker.  Not only was he an inventor, but an engineer as well.  Thank you Mr. Johnson for making summer’s even more memorable.  Read more about him at www.lonniejohnson.com .

 

Fannie Lou Hamer

Growing up the daughter of Sharecroppers to working on a Plantation in the 1950s-1960s.  She was a victim of the “Mississippi Appendectomy” and unjustly had her uterus  removed.  She continued to fight for the rights of the black vote and for the black voice to be heard.  No wonder she was “tired of being sick and tired”.  Read about the Strong Fannie Lou Hamer at https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/fannie-lou-hamer

Isaiah T. Montgomery & Benjamin Green

These two former slaves dreamed of starting the largest U.S. African American town and they did.  Click the link to read about how they developed the city of Mound Bayou, Mississippi and how it became known as the “Jewel of the Delta”. https://blackthen.com/mound-bayou-mississippis-jewel-delta-largest-black-town-u-s/

Benjamin Banneker

A man that allowed his love of education, space, time, and farming to create one of the first annually sent almanacs and the clock.  He didn’t allow race to stop him from writing to Thomas Jefferson about the inhumane treatment of slavery.  Read more about Benjamin Banneker at http://www.black-inventor.com/Benjamin-Banneker.asp

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Lonnie Johnson, Fannie Lou Hamer, Isaiah T. Montgomery, Benjamin Banneker, Benjamin Green

 

These are only a few of the great people that have made a difference to the way America is and they should be recognized.  Many of them are unknown or hardly mentioned in history.  Let us honor them and others, by researching them to learn about what they did to truly make America a great nation for all.

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Photos: Wikipedia and People

Valentine’s Week Series Day 7: My First Love

Ever since I can remember, you have always been there. Trying to help me navigate through this thing called life. Even at times when I didn’t feel comfortable coming to you, you’ve always been there waiting with open arms and open ears.  Always the guiding hand, the guiding force illuminating the way for me. I am blessed to say that I came from you. I am the reflection of the both of you. Everyday I notice things about myself that show the impact you have had on me.

I don’t know how you did it. As young as you were, as naive as you were, but together you raised me.  I am me because of you.  Being the age now that you were when I was growing up…I pray for that same patience.  Your teachings flow through me; into the ears of my classroom and eventually to my own.

I was there to watch the choices you made and to learn from the victories and mistakes.  Maturity has taught me that no one was to blame except youth and fear.  I learned many a life lessons from you.  Whether the lessons were taught verbally or non-verbally, I learned.  I watched and I listened.  I still do and I know that Love is and has always been at the forefront of your guidance.

I longed to make you proud.  I still do actually and all I ask in return is that you trust that your knowledge is apart of me.  Know that choices I make will not lead me astray from what you have taught me.

I see you now and smile at how well life has treated you. You are truly blessed. Most your age are not able to live as you two are.  Healthy and strong; no real need for medication to “keep” you.  Yes, there are some aches and pains that come with age, and that’s okay.  You may not have felt that life has always been on your side, but God’s love has always showered down upon you.  Your Father still had some life lessons for you to learn as well.

We may not be as we once were.  We may not have ever been the ideal, but I am proof of the love that was once authentically there.  Even in times of silence, doubt, frustration, and anger love was still there.  Love will always be there.  You taught me about love and you always showed me love.  I only know about love because of you.  No matter the storms that life brought us, it is Love that will forever bind us together.      You have and will always be my first love.

I hope that you enjoyed all of the many tales of love I shared this week.  This is the last posting in my Valentine’s Week Series.  Click on the blue link to get caught up and thank you for reading.

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Photo: Personal Archive

Valentine’s Week Series Day 6: These Two Trees

I see us in these two trees. Shielding and Protecting each other with Love as our Root.

I see Us in these two trees…

You my protector, protecting me from anyone that could be potential harm as you wrap your arms tightly but comfortingly around me.

You shade me from those that speak negatively against me, shielding me from arrows that may fall from unexpected places.

I too, try to shield and protect you as best as I can. Ready to reach out at anyone that attempts to attack you or what we have.

Together we are learning how to navigate in this world. Away from the familiar, so we surround each other with this Love; trying not to smother each other with this Love.

I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine. Holding on to each other while confidently knowing that our Maker intertwined us forever.

I see Us in these two trees with Love, and this Love is our Root.

Valentine’s Week Series Day 6

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Valentine’s Week Series Day 5: The Beginning of Our Beginning

In college, my choir was taking pictures to advertise for our upcoming concert.  Now my friend Janessa, was always telling me about this particular guy on campus and how he was so cute and funny and always made her laugh.  She was more outgoing than me, so she was always out around campus meeting different people.   She was eager for me and the rest of our friends to meet him.  She didn’t know that he was in our choir, since he wasn’t there when we tried out.

So an-t-ways, she and I, and the rest of our friends, meet in the designated area on campus to meet up for the pictures.  Most people are there, except for the photographer. About 25 minutes later all the members of the choir have arrived, including the photographer.  But now people are becoming impatient.  I didn’t have any work that I needed to do, so I was okay.  I had eaten dinner early and all of my friends were there, so I was in no hurry to leave.

I’m standing next to Janessa and all of a sudden she’s like, “Hey Lyric!  That’s the guy I’ve been telling you about!”

I turn around and see a handsome, clean-cut caramel, colored guy complaining about needing to get to the library because he had to study.  He wasn’t wearing a White T or baggy jeans and Jordans.  He was dressed like he already had a professional job.  I was thinking, “Okay this guy seems really focused”. I was impressed by this.  He was an upper class-man, but it was good to see someone that understood their reason for being in college…to actually graduate with a nice grade point average.  It didn’t hurt that he was attractive.  I mean he was Jason Momoa, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, L. Caldwell fine!

“Hey Lance!  This is my friend Lyric.  Lyric this is Lance.”

“Nice to meet you”, Lance and I both say together shaking hands.

“Man, I’m ready to go”, Lance adds to the the end of his greeting…while speaking to someone else.

I know he didn’t.  He barely let my hand go when he said it, and he was already looking away from me talking to someone else.  All I thought was Rude and had no interest in getting to know him any further. I mean, I understood where he was coming from, but my interpretation of what he did was, “I really don’t care about meeting you little girl, cuz I got stuff to do.”  A Bad Start.

Weeks go by, and acquaintances we become. He accuses me of having an attitude because I’m from Dallas, and I accuse him of not being from Texas because he lacked the accent.  We hung out with different people, but our circles were always interlocked. Whenever our circles would go to the cafeteria at the same time, and he didn’t have a swarm of people around him, he would take the time to spit ice chips at me through his straw and look away trying to act like it wasn’t him…annoying indeed.

He seemed to enjoy informing me about the size of my head; or telling me how at times it looked as if my perm had gone firm because there was no life in my ponytail.  It was just sticking straight out.  No gone with the wind fabulosity at all.  However, every now and then, his big face would surprise me with a compliment.  This was the beginning of our beginning.  Our friendship developed even more that next year, and misguided love built a bond between us that can never be broken.

A Fiction-ish Story: Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

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 Valentine’s Week Series Day 5

Photo: Edited to hide the faces of those in the photo, since this may or may not be about those in the photo.

Valentine’s Week Series Day 4: You were my Favorite Teacher…

Happy Valentine’s Day to all that have learned lessons about how beautiful & hurtful love can be. Cheers to the professors and students of Love!

You were my favorite teacher, and as much as I want to say what a waste of time class was, I can’t. Your lessons did benefit my life.

With your assistance, I admit, I learned somethings about myself.  I saw how eager I was to give my heart away.  I don’t know, maybe there was some low self esteem involved…some daddy issues, or just plain innocence.

“We” were a lesson for me to learn from and you taught me oh so well. I can remember how you did all the little things, just because… and how you sweetened me with words. You convinced me to think I was your favorite and only pupil.

I admired you for your knowledge and your ability to know just what to say, at all the right moments. Not just to me, but to any that needed a piece of you. But even a “foolish man can give wise counsel”.

How clever you were at twisting my heart to believe in you. To have faith in you.  Not only were you a teacher, but you were also an actor, a clown, a mime, a fickle little boy.

I can still see that dramatic scene like it was yesterday. You caught in a lie.  Me attempting to walk away while you fall to your face begging and pleading for me not to leave you.  I was what you had always been praying for.  I was what you never dreamed God would bless you with.  That’s what you said.

It was the tears that did it.  Along with your flattering, flittering, forked tongue.  I remember.  I remember the tears and you crying out about your lessons learned.  You said you would never betray me again.

But, you did.

Today, I remember you teacher because you taught me to never be so gullible again. Thank you teacher for taking advantage of my heart. Thank you for reminding me to never place all of my faith, in any earthly man.  Thank you for mocking me and my naiveté, as I would hang up the phone with you so you could then impart your wisdumb onto another. Thank you for your counterfeit love.

But what is life without love and heartbreak? Can one say they have truly lived if they have not experienced the two? Life is full of lessons and Love is one of the most difficult classes to take.

Yes you were my favorite teacher, and I am glad I failed your class.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Week Series Day 4

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Featured Image from Buzzfeed

 

Valentine’s Week Series

Valentine’s Week Series:
Love Stories ALL Week!

Kat’s Eye Viewers!!!!!  Where have you been this week?

For the Week of Valentine’s, I am posting stories about love all this week till Sunday, February 17.  Some of them are about me, some of them are about other’s experience with love, and some are stories completely created.  Either way they are ALL written The Way I See It.  Click below to read the 3 that have been posted so far.  Happy Love, Happy Heartbreak, & Happy Reading!!!  

❤️,💔,📚

Monday:  What Boyfriend? Part I

Tuesday:  What Boyfriend? Part II

Wednesday:  Me, You, & Hym

Thursday: You were my Favorite Teacher…     HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

Friday:  The Beginning of Our Beginning

Saturday:  These Two Trees

Sunday:  My First Love

 

Photo: Saint Laurent Women’s Heart Cat Eye Sunglasses

Valentine’s Week Series Day 3: Me, You, & Hym

I love You…I never truly loved Hym, but it’s too late.

I love You.  I can say that now. There’s no one I would rather say those magical words to.  I admit it took me awhile to realize it, but I know it now.

The timing was bad.  You were single, but I was kind of involved with someone else. You and I became close; acquaintances to best friends.  I could tell You anything, except the whole truth about Hym.  He was someone in my life that made me confused about my feelings for you.  I was dedicated to Hym.  We had history.  We were supposed to be together, that was what we had planned; but the closer You and I got the more I was able to see possibilities with You. You were different from Hym and special.

Talking to You, I remember feeling so comfortable.  With You I could be myself.  I can be the Me that really is Me.  With Hym, I find myself hiding the Me that I am with You.  I’m able to trust You.  I can let my guards down with You. You proved to Me, that you liked Me as a person.  You laugh at my stupid jokes and smile at Me.  I never feel as though you are expecting anything more than pure friendship from Me.  Maybe You wanted more, but I never felt any pressure to change how we were together.

I messed up with Hym!  I did.  Honestly, this shouldn’t have ever happened.  But I am forever bound to Hym.

You’ve moved on now.                                                                           Our time together is over.

It took me too long to admit what was in my heart, and I must deal with that.  I am loving what has been brought into my life, but I can never let You out of my mind.  I will always think about what could have been from a Me & You.

I hope she knows what she has.  I hope she realizes what a blessing You are.  I hope she tells You she loves You as often as I want to.  I hope You will never forget about Me.

Read What Boyfriend? Part I      and     What Boyfriend? Part II   of my Valentine’s Week Series for a tale of young love.

Valentine’s Week Series Day 3

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Photo: The Carmen Jones love triangle, featuring Dorothy Dandridge (Carmen Jones) ,Joe Adams (Husky Miller) ,and Harry Belafonte (Joe)

Valentine’s Week Series Day 2: What Boyfriend? Part II

Everything was going well, until that day at the playground where a good thing was bound to end.

Meeting Natrell at the Christmas Dance was indeed, a gift for me.  I had hit the jackpot!  It was now the Spring Semester and we were back at school.  Natrell and I communicated through notes and during games of Tag at recess.  He was a 4th grader, so our recess time was not spent completely together, but we had time to stare, giggle, and send messages through our friends to each other.  Never any real conversations, but he and all of the 3rd and 4th graders knew he was my boyfriend.  This little 3rd grader was “dating” the cutest boy in the 4th grade.

At this particular school, we had Before School Activities and After School Activities that students could sign up for.  This was to ease the stress of parents that were unable to pick their child up at 3:30 after school and/or couldn’t drop their child right off before school started at 8:30, due to work schedules.  They were fun activities to sign up for like Dance, Gymnastics, Chess Club, Board Games, Knitting, Art, Book Club, etc.  It was at one of these after school activities where all my plans would come to an end, for I forgot my mother was a teacher at my school.

One day after school, my afternoon activity class went outside to the playground.  Although it was a beautiful brisk spring day, I was a little sad.  Many of the 4th grade girls were attempting to take my boyfriend from me.  LaTasha, my best friend and messenger was gone, and my other friends were inside with their afternoon activity classes or home.  I was outside watching the many girls send their messengers to Natrell and his friends.  Of course he enjoyed the attention, but I was growing a bit nervous about it all.  I noticed the Student Teacher from my class was out side too, so I ran over to talk to her.

She was Miss Jones.  She was going to college to become a teacher.  She noticed that I seemed really sad and asked me what was wrong.  I explained to her that all the 4th grade girls were trying to take my boyfriend from me.  She tried to assure me that everything would be okay and that I had nothing to worry about.  After hugging and thanking her, I ran off to play and noticed my mommy walking onto the playground.  She had a long black trench coat on, but I was too young to notice the obvious omen that was steadily approaching me.  Here we go:

Me: Hey mommy!

Mommy:  Hey sweetie, how was your day?

Me: It was good.  I got a 100 on my Spelling Test!

Mommy:  Good baby! Are you ready to go? Go get your jacket.

As I was about to go and get my jacket, I see Miss Jones walking over.  Again, I didn’t foresee my immediate doom.

Miss Jones:  Hi Mrs. Young, how are you?  Did Katherine tell you about her boyfriend problem?

Transformation Activated…

Mommy: I’m doing fine…her what problems?

Eyes enlarging…Transformation 33%

Miss Jones:  Her boyfriend problems.  She said that she was sad because the girls were trying to take her boyfriend from her.

Turning to look at me…Transformation 65% *eyes blazing and shoulders rearing back*

Mrs. Young:  What boyfriend?  You gotta boyfriend? *stares at me with a crazed look as Miss Jones quickly walks away from a potential crime scene*

Transformation…72%

Me: *Staring at the dry ground, knowing soon I could possibly melt into a puddle of chocolate under Medusa’s, I mean mommy’s gaze.*

Mrs. Young: I’m going to ask you one more time. You have a boyfriend?

Transformation…77% *black trench turning into wings; teeth sharpening*

Me: Yes ma’am.

Mrs. Young: Where is he? *looking around hungrily while licking her lips at the kids playing on the playground*

Me: Over there. *I point to where he is.*

Mrs. Young: Ahhh, naw.  I’m bout ta nip this in the bud right now. Go get him.  I need to talk to him. *The gnashing of teeth can now be heard.*

Transformation into unknown Bird Box creature…COMPLETE…

*The creature, now pacing and eagerly awaiting its prey*

Me: *Walking over to Natrell, knowing that the Doom was here. *  Natrell, my mommy wants to talk to you.

Natrell: Why?

Me:  I don’t know.  She said she wants to meet you.

We walk in silence.  I don’t look at him, he doesn’t look at me.  We reach it.  *The sounds of weeping and gnashing of teeth can be heard to know that hell had indeed come to earth.*

Mrs. Young: Hello…are you Natrell?

Natrell: *Nodding* Yes ma’am.

*Was that a growl?*

Mrs. Young:  *Pointing at me with long yellow claws* You see this little girl right here?  She can’t have no boyfriend.  She’s not allowed to have a boyfriend, so today is the last day of this.

With the same effort that Jane Goodall used when trying to understand the communication and ways of Chimpanzees in the wilds of Africa, I attempted to decipher the screaming and clawing of the raving winged chimpanzee that my mother had transformed into. I was soon able to make out human words through the monkey chatter of her telling Natrell that we are too young to be trying to date.  Of her asking where were we going to go anyway, since we were dating and how were we getting there.  Then finalizing that this would be the end to our relationship.  We could be friends, but nothing more.

I could hear the 4th grade girls eaves dropping and laughing and plotting behind me.  They had always been plotting to put an end to our playground union.  How dare Miss Jones expose me and my relationship problems to my mom?  I came to her in confidence, how could she…*interrupted*

Mrs. Young: Little girl, are you listening?  Do you understand what I am saying?

Me: *Nodding* Yes Ma’am

Mrs. Young: Do you understand me young man?

Transformation Deactivated…78% Complete

Natrell: Yes ma’am. *Turns and runs away without a second look at us.*

Mrs. Young: Young lady…now you know you are not allowed to have a boyfriend.  Do you understand me?  You know God is always going to tell me when you’re doing something you shouldn’t.

Me: *Looking down at the dry dusty ground.* Yes ma’am.

Transformation Deactivated…Complete

Mommy:  Alright. Now go get your jacket so we can go.

That was the last day that Natrell ever looked at me or spoke to me.  He eventually moved soon after that, so my humiliation didn’t last long.  Looking back, my mother really was calm with Natrell and even with me.  It wasn’t his fault and I was just a little kid right? It’s all funny now looking back, how one question could change what was meant to be.

Thank you for reading PART II of What Boyfriend.  If you haven’t, please read What Boyfriend? Part I

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Valentine’s Week Series Day 2

Photo: Personal Archive

 

 

 

Valentine’s Week Series Day 1: What Boyfriend? Part I

At a young age my mother told me I wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend, but I had my own plans around this and of course I was smarter than her right?

Ever since I could remember, I have always been attracted to men.   I remember the many crushes I had as a child.  They were usually on someone older than me, a teen or adult, and thankfully paying this little girl no mind.  I can even remember my mother telling me, in the 1st grade, about how I would be allowed to have a boyfriend when I turned 16 because that’s when she was allowed to start dating.  I remember counting on my little fingers the number of years I had left to wait; just 10 long years.

In the second grade, I heard my mother talking on the phone to one of her friends about young people/kids dating and not even being able to spell boyfriend.  I then spelled the word in my head and said , to myself, “I can spell it.”  Of course I wasn’t stupid enough to tell her this. I had plans of actually living long enough to have a boyfriend one day.

The next year, 3rd grade, I lived my usual life at school of noticing the cute boys and hating math.  I wasn’t what one would call “fast”, I just thought boys were cute and I noticed them.  I had no plans to do anything more than write notes and play together at recess.  In my class there was a cute redhead named Todd.  He was a very nice boy and my friend.  He was a cutey and I approved of him being my boyfriend because my mom was okay with our friendship.  I was very confident at this age, so I made the usual note of “Do you like me? Circle Yes or No”, and had my friend pass it to him during recess.  He returned the note with Yes being circled and instantly he became my boyfriend.  It was probably a relationship lasting only 2 days, but during that time we did go to the Christmas Dance “together” meaning we walked into the gym at the same time.  We slow danced together, so we were Official okayyyy.

This was the beginning to the end of us.

While at this dance, I was at the concession stand to buy a pickle or popcorn, but I noticed a tall nice piece of dark chocolate walk past me.  He had what I know now as red undertones, that made his dark skin even more beautiful.  He had dark black curly hair with the staple 1991 two side parts in his box haircut or was it a Gumby?  Oh yeah, he had a small tail too, with an earring.  My GOD!  I was in love.  He had to be mine!  He was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen!  But Todd was my boyfriend.  Oh what to do?

I had to tell my friend LaTasha to tell Todd that I wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend.  See my plan was that if I broke up with Todd, then maybe I could get with this young chocolate zaddy.  Ginger’s are nice, but chocolate…EVERYBODY loves Chocolate.  The healthiest chocolate is the darkest, right?  This was the End to me and Todd.  Since I wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend anyway I was doing the right thing.

This twist on the truth did hurt Todd, but I had to get my young 3rd grade pimpin game on.  Todd would be alright.  With my guiding hand of important questioning my messenger LaTasha was able to tell me that this Chocolate’s name was Natrell.  He was new to the school, and a 4th grader.  I told ya’ll I liked them older.  Anyway I left that school dance with a new boyfriend.  He didn’t need to know that I wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend…he just needed to know that I, little Miss Young, was his new girlfriend.

I had a 4th grade boyfriend that I quickly pushed away from me as we left out the school together.  Hey, my momma was coming.  I couldn’t let her see us together.  Too many questions to answer.  Gotta be smart about all this…

Thank you for reading Part I of What Boyfriend? Tune in later this week to read  What Boyfriend? Part II and find out what brought about the inevitable demise of this hot new relationship.

Valentine’s Week Series Day 1

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