An Old Friend

Written by Nefertiti N.

Not too long ago I ran into an old acquaintance. Back in the day she was radiant, beautiful, her dark mocha skin a finishing touch to a work of fine art. There was confidence in the sparkle in her eyes...and why not? Men and women could not help but stare...her womanly hips and perfectly proportioned body swayed provocatively as she walked...she was beauty, and beauty was her.

We smiled at each other as I approached, and as I hugged my old friend I felt my heart grow heavy. She talked of the struggles that black people face, the injustice, the various grassroot movements against police brutality, against racism, and for freedom...true freedom. I nodded in agreement and listened intently to this intelligent, beautiful young woman who had been ravaged by life. Her clothes hung off her thin frame, haggard and worn, and her unkempt hair peeked out from underneath a multi-colored scarf. She was embarrassed, as she fidgeted with her hair and mentioned that she needed to get it done. I smiled and made small talk to put her at ease as she stared at me intently as if to ascertain my sincerity...

As we parted I hugged her tightly, as if doing so would change something...I desperately needed to believe that something would change...

I have thought about her often since then, and about my brothers and sisters weaving through oppression, the after-effects of oppression, the socio-economic, psychological, ongoing oppression that has seemingly morphed into an untouchable monster of a machine that no one dare point at let alone face...