My son, you were not born a slave.
You are enslaved by White people.
You ask why? Let me tell you, it’s not your fault.
We all are God’s creatures but Whites own us.

But Papa, how can a human being
own another fellow human?
Aren’t we all God’s children?
Is all men are equal just a slogan?

See my son, it is not that simple.
Not every word spoken tells the truth.
Words have selective meaning.
Some apply only to a selected few.

So, Papa, why doesn’t it apply to us?
Since you ask my son, I will tell you.
We are Blacks brought to this
place as slaves – property of White Masters.

Why don’t we run away?
Aha, a good question!
Because of slave catchers or
what Whites call the police.

Runaways are treated worse than stray dogs.
Beaten, starved, locked up in isolation.
Breaks my heart to say don’t even try.
Life as a dutiful slave, while not good in itself,
still is much better than a runaway slave’s life.
Trust me, your papa doesn’t want to see you as one.

How did we end up here, Papa?
Son, you ask too many questions.
Papa, sorry but I want to know, is that wrong?
No son it is not, ask me all you want.

Our ancestors belong to Africa.
A continent thousands of miles away
Our “brothers” trapped us and sold us
to slave traders for money,
Yes son for money!

So, they must have gotten tired walking.
No son, there is an ocean in between.
We were packed in ships as cargo.
Shackled and chained; fed measly ration.
Left to breathe in stench of our own feces.
Many died but they were left down there.
The whole area smelled of feces and dead bodies.

Papa, you know a lot, I’m proud of you.
Thank you, son. I want to teach you what I know.
You are my precious property.
Though Whites will claim as theirs.

One more thing, as you grow and become a man,
don’t mess around with White girls.
White girls’ accusations, even false ones
will become a cause for absolute punishment.
I will defer discussion of how till you are grown up.
I can describe it to you, but it is so grotesque.
Let me just tell you it’s called lynching.

Papa, every so many days our White masters
dress up and go somewhere.
Please tell me where they go.
Son, they go to a place of worship called church.
Where priest preaches them the right and wrong
They worship Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior.

Why don’t we go?
Is Jesus Christ the lord of White people only?
No son, that’s not true.
The book they read is Bible.
It Doesn’t say church is for Whites only.
But, Whites use selective teachings from the book.

I hope one day somebody will rise and proclaim that
slavery is wrong and will abolish it as a state policy.
I can’t tell you when it is going to happen.
All I can tell you is you have to have hope.
Without hope a man is dead,
worse than a dead body.

Son, I love you more than I love myself.
I know one day they are going
to take you away from me
and sell it to the highest bidder.
I will be left here to mourn in silence.

I am sorry for going down this path.
I want you to enjoy your life as a child.
What happens tomorrow will happen?
Regardless of what we do, or we don’t.

Now give me a hug, my little darling!
I love you more than my life!!