It was June 1993 and I was walking to church on what felt like the hottest day of summer. I had just witnessed the police assaulting innocent people. Scared and confused, I immediately turned back and ran home. It was the first time leaving my house without my mother and I did not want to wake her since it was only 5 am. I had no idea that police brutality was so common that I cannot walk on the street for 10 minutes without seeing white police officers beating innocent pedestrians.
I came home to find my mother wide-awake and angry. She yelled, “Kagiso, where did you go? I told you to never leave the house without me.” She explained how dangerous the world is for black Africans like her and me. “I was planning on telling you when you were older. I just wanted you to be happy.”
This only made me angry. I still believe she should have told me earlier. After all, I am 10 years …show more content…
A white lady looked at me and looked concerned. She walked toward me and asked, “Hey little girl are you lost?” She had the funniest French accent. I did not know how to respond. Since this was the first social interaction in two days and I needed someone to talk to, I decided to give her a chance.
“Yeah actually I do not have a place to live and I was just visiting the church I used to attend when I was younger. I thought I would find comfort in here,” I explained. At this point, I just wanted someone to accept me into their home because I was tired of living on the streets. I did not care if it was a random woman from church; I was desperate. Besides, she seemed like a nice person.
Of course, she invited me to stay at her house. I was planning on only staying for a day, maybe two. She told me she lived with her husband and two daughters. They were around 5 or 6 years old. I was watching TV when her husband walks through the door. He had a brief discussion with his wife and then approached me. He asked, “What is your
I came home to find my mother wide-awake and angry. She yelled, “Kagiso, where did you go? I told you to never leave the house without me.” She explained how dangerous the world is for black Africans like her and me. “I was planning on telling you when you were older. I just wanted you to be happy.”
This only made me angry. I still believe she should have told me earlier. After all, I am 10 years …show more content…
A white lady looked at me and looked concerned. She walked toward me and asked, “Hey little girl are you lost?” She had the funniest French accent. I did not know how to respond. Since this was the first social interaction in two days and I needed someone to talk to, I decided to give her a chance.
“Yeah actually I do not have a place to live and I was just visiting the church I used to attend when I was younger. I thought I would find comfort in here,” I explained. At this point, I just wanted someone to accept me into their home because I was tired of living on the streets. I did not care if it was a random woman from church; I was desperate. Besides, she seemed like a nice person.
Of course, she invited me to stay at her house. I was planning on only staying for a day, maybe two. She told me she lived with her husband and two daughters. They were around 5 or 6 years old. I was watching TV when her husband walks through the door. He had a brief discussion with his wife and then approached me. He asked, “What is your