Dear Diary: My Life Raising Brown Girls

We now live in shared community. The same community you did not want to occupy or be caught dead in many years ago. The same community that was once affordable and now the average brown family can no longer afford to remain in or rent. Yet you are here, and we embrace you with no issues.  Unfortunately, some of you move in and cause nothing but problems. Instead of us living together peacefully, some of you have inappropriate conversations with underage children instead of speaking to the parent. This is the quickest way to get your feelings hurt (that's putting it nicely). Some of you look for reasons to call law enforcement knowing the outcome of your actions could cause a black or brown man, woman or child to lose their life.  If there is no imminent threat to you or someone else why are you calling the police. Yet, I get it now. This is your way to express you have "control" of the situation you created in your mind. If you did not know, let me say it loud for those o

Screaming Congratulations!!! Today is Tereya's big day. She is graduating from Brooklyn College. Tereya has accomplished so much. I am so proud of her and the young lady she has become. She did not have the opportunity to take her graduation pictures, nor did she have a traditional graduation ceremony today.  We were not able to schedule hair, nail and make up appointments. My plan is to have her do these things as well have her photos taken to commerate this accomplishment. The pandemic came in wreaking havoc on our lives. She had to complete her final semester of college remotely. It was a challenge, but she did not let that or Corona deter her. She held onto the goal and trusted the process. It was not easy, but it was worth it. Guess what Tinkerbell, YOU did it.  You have set the path for your only sister. You may get on each others nerves, but she looks up to you. Tereya you have fought through some bad days to earn the best days of your lif

We the people have been in a choke-hold since the beginning of time.We the people of the black and brown community live in a country where we sing land of the free and the home of the brave. The question remains are we really free? Or are we free-ish? We the people were not able to breathe long before Eric Gardner uttered those very words. We the people has had a knee on our neck for quite sometime and we beyond tired. We are beyond angry, tired and frustrated and emotionally drained. We have been fighting for equality for centuries. Sadly, the color line continues to divide our nation and our communities.  I have heard people say we should be tired of our own killing our own. I am here to say, we are tired. We are tired of the murders and violence done by our very own and others. However, today, I am not addressing the killings done by our own. Today, I am speaking about the racial injustices within the black and brown community.  The recent protests are happening because of the murde