By Chiamaka Okafor

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This piece navigates the conversation between a Black mother and her child, preparing them for a world in which the color of their skin determines their worth.

Stay in my view if you’re going to go play with your friends on the weekend; don’t play in big groups out on your own; don’t play with toy guns like some of your other friends; you’re not as small as you used to be; some people might think you’ve got trouble to cause; don’t keep your hoodie on too low in certain areas; don’t keep it on at all; your comfort is another man’s fear; if someone upsets you, make sure you let it go: don’t engage; don’t stand out too much but don’t keep too much to yourself; don’t run in the store and go playing off in the clothes and shelves; and keep your hands out your pockets; keep by mama’s side because you’re my sweet child; you’re older now; you lose your innocence in their eyes; so always be prepared and don’t ever let your guard down; “Do you know why I pulled you over?” ; not on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, don’t ever answer that question; be exceptionally respectful even if they’re not; it doesn’t matter if you’re having a bad day because their bad day triples yours; if they wanna be mad they’ll be mad; you shouldn’t be mad; this is how you don’t get upset to seem angry; don’t do anything without the police’s permission; this is how to make sure they can see your hands; don’t reach for your ID or nothing unless they ask; this is how to communicate every movement you make; make it clear to them you’re not the criminal they see; but I thought police are good? ; there are good police, but there are also bad ones; one day you might run into that bad one; sometimes people are going to look at you and think you’re a bad person; my friends don’t think I’m bad? ; this is how to pray if one day, even after all of this, it might not work; don’t run, don’t panic; don’t ever blame yourself for what you can’t control; just pray to God you make it out alive; do everything you can to get back home to me; my sweet child.

Process

I created this piece as part of an assignment for a creative writing class, tasked with writing my own imitation piece based on the technique used in Jamaica Kincaid’s story “Girl”. Kincaid writes in her story without any periods, only using semicolons to convey her message. I was inspired by this technique and crafted my own original story using this technique. The message behind this piece of work reflects on the real world experience of growing up as a young Black child.