This story was submitted by a friend of Agape Adoption Agency. A precious child considers the recent national events and questions, “Am I the black life that matters?”
My daughter has had a fascination with officers since she could express herself. I’ve lost count of how many times in restaurants or at coffee shops, or even at the zoo, Maya would beg me to go with her to say hi to a group of officers. Her very best friend in the whole world is the son of an officer. Her other good friend wants to be an officer when he grows up. I have many friends who are officers. I have many friends who are daughters & sons, spouses, or siblings of officers. I am not anti-cop. I do not have to be anti-cop to be pro Black Lives Matter.
This topic has been discussed by politicians and celebrities and probably your friends and relatives and maybe you’re sick of it. But chances are you haven’t heard the topic discussed by a 6-year-old. So here is that version:
Maya climbed into my bed the other morning as has become our little morning routine. She curled up under my arm and said, “Mom, you know how I’m really brown but I’m what people call black?”
I replied, “Yes, honey. That’s true.”
“And even though you’re pinkish-orange, you’re what people call white?” Stifling a giggle as I pictured a popsicle, I replied, “Yes, that is also true.”
“Well, I’ve heard what you and my siblings have been talking about. There’s some white people that really don’t like black people. And it doesn’t make any sense to me. How can someone not like someone because of the color of their outside?! That’s not even something you can change! There’s been a lot of fighting. And you told me that the lady you named me for, Ms. Rosa Parks and the Mr. King guy fought for this a long time ago way before I was born. Mommy why are they still fighting about it? Why can’t they stop the fighting?
I held her tighter and said, “I don’t think anyone understands why the fighting can’t stop, sweetheart. A lot of people want the fighting to stop.”
She was quiet as we snuggled for a bit longer. Then she got up and looked me straight in the face and said, “I’ve also heard my siblings saying “Black Lives Matter. Since I’m Black. That’s me, right? Mommy, am I the Black life that matters?“ #blacklivesmatter #lovewinsalways #lovecomesineverycolor #whycanttheystopthefighting #stopthehate
