A Black Boy's Postcard to the Past

by Thomas Beckwith

Image credit: Wix.com

Goodbye to the black boy who was a punching bag,

and told not to cry; he was left with scars that are now triggers.

Goodbye to the days of having no food to eat,

and the sleepless nights of hearing the monster roar in his belly.

Goodbye to his shudders and stutters.

There were times he was afraid to talk.

Goodbye to walking three miles to catch the city bus

to go with his mom to shop for groceries.

Goodbye to eating Oodles of Noodles and drinking Kool-Aid.

Goodbye to not having air conditioning and cable television.

Goodbye to the black boy who suddenly became the man of the house.

Goodbye to the high school dropouts, hustlers, drug dealers

who sat under the willow tree in “The Circle.”

Goodbye to the gunshots and police.  

Goodbye to him carrying a butcher knife and a dough roller to protect himself.

Goodbye to rats, ants, and roaches in public housing.

Goodbye to the black boy who was told he had no future.

Goodbye to the black boy who silently begged to be loved and hugged.

Goodbye to his struggles, memories, and almost forty years of trauma.

He doesn’t need to apologize or ask for permission to say goodbye.

***

Thomas Beckwith

Thomas Beckwith is an Assistant Director for the University of Florida’s Office of Academic Support, where he provides support to students including academic coaching, leadership development, and holistic success planning. He also enjoys writing in his authentic voice, finding it to be a therapeutic way to process experiences and overcome past trauma.