Beautiful Black Boys

Beautiful Black Boys, I see you. You mean the world to me. I have had the privilege of being the one adult you would spend the majority of time in a day with. I want to protect you, but I simply cannot protect you from all the evil our world holds.

If I could keep you safe and put you in a box. I simply wouldn't. By hiding you from the world they would never get to experience the brightness you bring. They would never get to hear your pure belly laughs that can be heard down the hallway. They will never know the way you question every rule because you know some of them aren't for your benefit. They won’t see how loyal you are to the people you love.

A world without you — isn’t one I want to be in.

It is half backward that I was put into your lives to teach you. Teach you all grammar, writing, reading, etc. The part that is backward is that I learned more from YOU. I didn’t know how deeply I could care for someone whom I had only known for less than a year's time. I didn’t know I would put my entire career on the line to know the world did right by you. Put everything on the line for people to see who you are. I will not erase the black from your identity. Those people just forgot the fact you are also kids. Kids who should be allowed the privilege of being a damn kid.

I think about all of you often. You may have had days where you thought I hated you, hell you probably had more days where you hated me. I always meant well. Every action I did was out of love for you. Love for you to become the young man I know you are.

You all hold a special place in my heart. Always have and always will. Loyalty knows no distance. So know whenever you need me — I’m here.

Because I need you here.

We need you here.