Personal Narrative: Black Fatherless Stereotypes

Lucky enough was I, at the age of 12 to receive my first glimpse outside the “box” (box is usually a term of seclusion that society or one’s self creates for a person or group of people). The box is a symbol for me that represents my hood, my projects, my barrio or my current life existences and everything that comes with that standard or expectation of life. My family valued consistent work ethic, realism and had no means of providing more than food on the table. When, I was at the young age of 8 my whole life changed. My mother just disappeared! She just walked out the door one day and never came back. Representation of the the typical poor black fatherless stereotype was a reality in my life as well, some times he was around but most times …show more content…
Okinawa, Japan. In my mind I was going to reunite with my mother, convince her to send for my sisters and brother and we would live happily ever after in a whole new world. However, reality from fantasy was quickly distinguished once I arrived. Upon my arrival, I was sat down and told by my mother that nobody knew she had kids, including me and she wanted to keep things that way. Hearing these words was a defining moment for me because I had been so angry with the world for so long for “taking my mother” from me, I had become explosive with bad behavior in her absence. Nevertheless, I had a new choice to make as truth and reality set in. I could either continue on my destructive path, or leave my hurt and anger with her and move on. I remember holding back my tears because I now knew she did not deserve to witness the hurt and suffering her absence had caused me. That would have been a privileged for her and one I would no longer bestow. The Pit of my stomach began to sink with sorrow and relief all at the same time. For the first time in what felt like forever, I chose life! With grand determination I made a decision right there that this would not break me and that I would move on. I gasped for air like it was the first breath I had taken since the age of 8. “The truth shall set you free” and In that moment, I …show more content…
I can write a whole book about what happen next but for now, I went on to have 3 children, all before turning 19. I Graduated high school by 16 and started college. I joined the military at 18, finishing my college education in my early 30s and started law school all while raising 4 kids and surviving 3 failed marriages. Life has not been a fairy-tale for me, nor has it been an endless string of tragedy. Having traveled the world plays an enormous part of my ability to conquer difficult tasks, enjoy the moments I have with loved ones’ and reach for what is next to come. I never know how long I will choose to be in one place or where my spirit will take me next, so this allows me to continuously stay present in each and every moment. Complacency is just not a word in my vocabulary or understanding because I am always stretching to reach new heights and see new things. Traveling to Japan at such a young age allowed me to not only read or hear about the world, but receive a firsthand knowledge of it’s true existence. Traveling at a young age created a fire for life, for the people that live it and that fire has yet to burn out. As a girl from humble beginnings, seeing some of the world at a young age meant everything to me. While living in Okinawa, Japan I did not do anything extraordinary or even notice the changes that were taking place in my mind, body and spirit. A seed had been planted that would be watered thru life experience