PRIDE

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SHAFFÉ TOLD ME I WALKED WITH A SWITCH IN 5TH GRADE. MRS. BEAUFORD PULLED OUT HER EARRINGS AND THREW HER SHOES OFF TO FIGHT IN 5TH GRADE. I STARTED A FIGHT WITH HORACE IN THE 5TH GRADE. MARY KISSED ME IN THE LIBRARY IN 5TH GRADE AND MY “BOYS” THOUGHT I WAS GROSS FOR KISSING A GIRL (GO FIGURE 😂). MR. REED WAS MY FIRST BLACK MALE TEACHER, AND HE TAUGHT MUSIC… HE NEVER CALLED ON ME. 5TH GRADE HAD HAMBURGERS THAT TASTED LIKE SAUSAGE PATTIES COOKED IN AN ELEVATOR DRIPPING CHLORINE…

I WAS INTRODUCED TO CULTURE IN 5TH GRADE. I HAD PENPAL FROM JAPAN 🇯🇵 AND WE WROTE TO EACH OTHER MONTHLY I THINK. SHE INTRODUCED ME TO HAMTARO, SHE WROTE ME ABOUT SUSHI AND SHE TAUGHT ME ABOUT HER CUSTOMS. I LEARNED SPANISH IN 5TH GRADE, SET ME ON A COURSE TO LOVE OF LATIN CULTURE THAT I HAVE. I MET TOM CARPER (LOCAL CELEBRITY 😂) IN 5TH GRADE AND SHOOK HANDS WITH A DECISION MAKER FOR MY HOME, I WROTE A 18 PAGE BOOK REPORT ON WILLY WONKA AND WROTE MY FIRST FAN-FICTION OF WIZARD OF OZ IN 5TH GRADE WHICH TO THIS DAY IS STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES I’VE EVER DONE 😆

I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW MUCH NEGATIVITY HAPPENED AT ME IN 5TH GRADE, I’LL ALSO NEVER FORGET HOW MUCH I LEARNED IN 5TH GRADE. I’LL NEVER FORGET HOW THOMAS EDISON, STEALER OF THE LIGHTBULB, COULD INVADE THE BLACK COMMUNITY WITH HIS NAME AND LEAVE ME FEELING SO DEPRIVED AND INFUSED… IT JUST MAY HAVE TAKEN SOME MORE TIME TO FEEL THE LAST. JACKIE, REMEMBER THAT TIME IS JUST TIME AND FOR A LOT OF IT … IT’S MADE UP. SO WHILE WE KEEP GOING … MAKE IT GOOD, MAKE IT SPECIAL, AND MAKE IT HAPPY. I LEAVE YOU ANY OF MY PRIDE STUFF. 1. BECAUSE NOT ONLY HAVE YOU BEEN THERE SINCE NOT TOO LONG AFTER THESE MOMENTS BUT BECAUSE YOU’VE BEEN NEXT TO ME THROUGH EVERY DISCOVERY OF MY PRIDE AND I DON’T KNOW 🧐 WHERE I WOULD BE IF I DIDN’T HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU NEXT TO ME TO LEARN WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO HAVE PRIDE IN MYSELF AS A PERSON. NOW 2. KNOW THAT… YOU ARE NOT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO YOU AND YOU ARE NOT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY YOU ARE, YOU ARE WHOEVER YOU DECIDE TO BE WHEN YOU DECIDE TO BE. YOU ARE YOUR EXPERIENCE PLUS YOUR TRUTHS PLUS YOUR AUTHENTICITY PLUS YOUR SPIRIT PLUS YOUR VULNERABILITIES PLUS EVERY LOSS THAT YOU HAVE TURNED INTO A WIN. YOU ARE LOVE AND LIGHT AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT ANGER HAPPENS, WHAT SADNESS PEAKS THROUGH, THE PRIDE YOU HAVE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL ALWAYS SHINE THROUGH. THANKS FOR BEING APART OF MY RAINBOW 🌈! TODAY’S LESSON FOLKS… SUM UP ALL YOUR NUMBERS, DO THE MATH 🧮 AND EQUATE YOUR LIFE ON TERMS OF HOW MANY MORE THINGS YOU HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO NOT JUST WHAT YOU’VE OVERCOME!

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