by D. Camille
Wesley looked at his own wife and daughter. “I’m beginning to have some thoughts on that myself, maybe we should talk some more about it.”
Khalil nodded. “Of course, any time my brother.”
Watching them take off, Khalil headed inside and locked the doors before hanging up his coat and removing his shoes. Glancing in the living room, he shook his head, Danielle was going to be surprised by this one.
Walking into his bedroom, he found Kyros curled up on the bed next to Danielle, with her arm around him, and Kyra in her wicker bassinette next to the bed. He smiled at his family sleeping so peacefully and protected.
After checking Kyra’s diaper, Khalil climbed onto the bed behind Danielle and kissed her neck as he slid an arm around her waist gently.
She awakened with a smile. “How was the group?” she asked sleepily.
“It was good.” He peered over at his sleeping son, dressed in pajamas. “Why is he not in his own bed?”
Danielle looked at Kyros lying next to her and kissed the top of his head. “He didn’t want to leave us until you got here.”
Khalil smiled. “That’s my son.”
“That’s our son,” Danielle corrected him.
“You are right Queen.” Khalil kissed her jaw. “How are you?”
She smiled. “I was good today.”
“So I heard.”
“You’re checking up on me?” she asked.
“Of course.”
Danielle laughed. “I am not surprised.
“Speaking of surprises,” Khalil began. “Your best friend has a living room full of baby items for us.”
She turned to him. “What?”
“Toya and Ms. Watkins held a community baby shower for Kyra and I brought home a truck load of items, that Toya picked out for our baby,” Khalil explained with a slightly amused smile.
“Please tell me she didn’t do that,” Danielle pleaded.
He nodded. “You can look in the room.”
Danielle climbed slowly from the bed with Khalil’s assistance and headed to the living room. When she got there, her hand flew to her mouth.
“What in the world!”
Khalil leaned against the wall and watched her looked at the piles of items.
“This is enough for ten babies!” she exclaimed. “What are we going to do with all of this?”
He shrugged. “I guess we should ask Toya.”
“I’m going to kill her!”
Khalil nodded. “I told her that.”
Danielle sat on the sofa surrounded by the clothing and toys. She shook her head. “That girl! I should save all of this stuff for when she has a baby.”
“Hopefully it’s a girl,” Khalil pointed out and Danielle glared at him.
He smiled and came over to her. “Don’t be mad at me Queen. This wasn’t my fault.” Khalil helped her stand. “Now, it’s late and you can look at all this tomorrow when Toya comes over.”
Danielle allowed him to lead her back to the bedroom. “Yeah, I’ll see her.”
In their room, Khalil picked Kyros up from the bed while Kyra began to squirm. “I’m going to put him to bed and I’ll be right back to help with her,” he told Danielle.
Khalil left the room and headed down the hall. Inside Kyros’ room, he laid the boy in bed and kissed his head. “Goodnight son,” he told him.
Kyros stirred. “Hey Daddy,” he said sleepily. “I took care of the Queens.”
“Good job, little soldier. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Love you Daddy,”
Khalil smiled. “I love you too Kyros.”
“Tell Momma and Kyra goodnight.”
“I will.”
Khalil adjusted the cover. “Get some sleep, little King.” Khalil kissed him again then headed back to the room, where Danielle had Kyra nursing.
“You need anything?” Khalil asked and Danielle patted the bed next to her.
Khalil sat up against the pillows, and placed a cloth on his shoulder. He watched his daughter drink her fill and was glad she was having no problems since leaving the hospital.
“I missed you tonight,” Danielle whispered.
His eyes lifted to hers. “I missed you too.” He kissed her softly.
When Kyra was done, Danielle handed her to her father, who took her gently into his arms. Lifting her over his shoulder, he began to gently rub her back, while Danielle fixed her clothes. When he heard the required little hiccup, he lifted her little face to his and looked into her dark brown eyes.
“Hey Black Child
Do you know who you are
Who you really are
Do you know you can be
What you want to be
If you try to be
What you can be,” Khalil recited the words to her softly as she watched him curiously.
Danielle smiled. “Hey Black Child by Countee Cullen. I love that poem,” she whispered.
Khalil turned to her. “I love you…my beautiful judge.”
She leaned over and kissed him before marveling at their precious gift.
“And I love you…my beautiful Black King.”
The End…
Hotep Fam!
Thank you for reading Khalil and Danielle’s story. Sexual abuse against black males happens at a comparable rate to females. Researchers estimate that 1 in 6 men have had unwanted sexual experiences, including abuse and assault which can create lasting negative effects.
Unfortunately for our black boys and men, many suffer in silence unable to receive support and services that are imperative for healing.
This is taken from the American Psychological Association, an article titled, “What’s hidden in plain sight: A look at child sexual abuse in the black community.”
“When black children have been victimized and they exhibit maladaptive symptoms of their abuse, they tend to be labeled and stigmatized for their actions. This phenomenon is demonstrated by the "school-to-prison pipeline” that has become more and more prevalent in our nation’s school systems. The American Civil Liberties Union describes the school to prison pipeline as “a disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems” (School-to-Prison Pipeline, n.d.). Many of the children that are affected by this institutional trend are students of color that have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse or neglect (School-to-Prison Pipeline, n.d.). Very few take the time to look past the overt behaviors and really examine the covert pain that emanates from a history of abuse; which unfortunately places black youth in the predicament of getting punishment or remediation rather than receiving effective help to heal.”
This is what spurred me to write this story and to reveal the atrocities against our young boys and men and I knew that Khalil would be the man to tackle it…by any means necessary.
I wanted to open more eyes and ears to the pain of our males, and convey better understanding that they are the VICTIMS and that this is CRIMINAL. Our boys are our future and our men protect our community. When our Kings are whole and healed, our communities are stronger.
The Negus return in the finale, The Ram, this summer! Corvus Shaw is coming… (I hope she can cook!)
Ase’
Link to Full Article: http://www.apa.org/pi/about/newsletter/2014/11/child-sexual-abuse.aspx
BOOKS BY D. CAMILLE
The Black Land Series
*THE LION
*THE BULL
*THE SCALES
*THE TWIN
The Uncut Series
*HER SHIELD
*GODDESS GETAWAY
*HER GUARDIAN
*HER PROTECTOR
The Black Diamond Series
*BLACK MAGIC
*MASTERS OF ILLUSIONS
*ORIGINS
*ART OF DECEPTION
*THE BLACKS
Fall Black In Love Series
*WHEN HENRY MET MILLIE
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
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COMING IN 2017:
HER WARRIOR – THE UNCUT SERIES FINALE
THE RAM – THE BLACKLAND SERIES FINALE
THE “D” TOUR – DETROIT, MICHIGAN (FIRST STOP)
HEY BLACK CHILD
by Countee Cullen
Hey Black Child
Do you know who you are
Who you really are
Do you know you can be
What you want to be
If you try to be
What you can be
Hey Black Child
Do you know where you are going
Where you're really going
Do you know you can learn
What you want to learn
If you try to learn
What you can learn
Hey Black Child
Do you know you are strong
I mean really strong
Do you know you can do
What you want to do
If you try to do
What you can do
Hey Black Child
Be what you can be
Learn what you must learn
Do what you can do
And tomorrow your nation
Will be what you what it to be
Hey, Black Child is an encouraging poem for the possibilities of young children in the Harlem renaissance era and all children for that matter, especially seeing that a black child's possibilities weren't made apparent at the time. Although it is very repetitive, it is powerful. It is a method of drilling this inside of children's heads by repeating this over and over. The messages that Cullen is sending goes by stanza. In the first stanza, it is a message of achievement explaining that you can achieve what you want when you try. The second stanza gives the idea of education when you apply yourself. No one can control you because you are in control of your life. The third stanza is referring to the past by telling black children that they are strong because of the struggle for black people to be able to learn and to achieve things. The last stanza is referring to the future and is telling black children that basically life is what you make it and if you learn what you must learn and do what you must do, your nation will be what you want it to be.
