For Troubled Black Girls, Who Sometimes Cry
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"Mama it ain’t him." "It’s not." "No it’s some ol’ white man and he’s coming up on the porch." I walk out of the bathroom. I feel a bit unsure and slightly embarrassed. I guess this is the proper time to tell him about Jamie. "That’s probably him. Our dinner guest is white." "Huh?" He rolls his eyes as he stands there in disbelief. His look says "I know she didn’t say a white man was eating dinner with us." "What for Mama?" I don’t know how to answer that question. How can I answer his question when I’m asking myself the same thing? What for Maya? I look away from him and, and proceed to open the door. As I pull it open Jamie, smiling that naughty smile, steps into my home and into my life. In each arm he holds a package. Before now it had been just Jamie and me sneaking around. Before tonight it didn’t matter as much. We could call it off at any time and nobody would ever know. Tonight meant the sneaking was over. The two most important people in my life now know about him. He kisses me lightly on the lips and hands me a box containing a fifth of Seagram's V-O. I take the box and look at Ant to gauge his response. Those two big eyes say it all. On my baby’s face is a look that clearly says, what the hell is going on! He looks at me in total disbelief. There is something to be said about the instinct of a child. He then looks down at the floor. Children are normally so trusting and optimistic. I do not see those qualities on my son’s face. What I do see is an array of things, but not one of them is trust, or optimism. He, for whatever reason, does not look straight ahead. There is no comfort in his eyes. He doesn’t look skyward for hope. There is something about the instinct of a child. My child looks down at the floor. "Hey there partner. You must be my man Ant." In a whisper of a voice, while never taking his eyes from his shoes, he responds. "Yes sir, I’m Ant." "Ant, this is Jamie. The person I was telling you ‘bout." Or should have told you about. "Hey there." "He’s a friend of mine, and I just wanted you to meet him." He rolls those saucer sizes eyes up without saying anything. A few seconds drag and drag some more until what seems like a minute has past. It’s real clear. Ant would rather have a pork chop tied around his neck, in a pen with hungry pit bulls, than to be here. To make matters worse, right now, I’m not sure if I wouldn’t prefer to be right beside him. "Hey partner, I bet you can’t guess what I got for you?" "Jamie you didn’t have to bother with no presents." "It no bother. I been dying to meet this fella for over a month now. Feel like I already know him. So I thought I’d get things off on the right foot." He extends his hand out, and reaches the package toward Ant. Ant is unsure of what to do. On the one hand he’s curious about it and very much wants the gift. On the other hand, he’s never had a white man give him anything except a hard time. He looks at me and then at the package. He takes a second look at me. I anxiously nod for him to take it. I don’t want to hurt Jamie’s feelings. He shyly moves forward and accepts the package, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on me. "Now what do you say to Mr. Jamie?" In a voice that sounds more like it’s coming from a mouse. "Thank you Mr. Jamie." "Well you’re welcome, and you can just call me Jamie." I nervously smile as Ant takes the package back to the couch. I lie. "That seemed to go alright. I just believe once he gets to know you, y’all gonna get along just fine." "No question ‘bout it Maya. One thing ‘bout me, kids they love me to death." Ant, getting over his initial suspicion, tears into the packet. He pulls out a large green basketball jersey. On it are the words BIRD and CELTICS. There is also the number 33. He innocently asks. "Who’s Bird?"
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About the Book
In For Troubled Black Girls, Who Sometimes Cry, Maya Baxter reasons that if you ever meet someone who loves too much, then they’re in a perpetual search for Spring and all that it promises. Why is it that some women fall in love so easily? Why is it that when they fall in love, they fall in love too much? And why in spite of all their past failures, they gain no insight into love and relationships? These questions speak to the major themes of this story. All her life, Maya has been on a prolonged and difficult journey. She is searching for that one person who will make Spring last forever. In the small Southern town of Tylerville, South Carolina, Maya, "as black as a starless midnight" meets and falls in love with a secretive stranger. This would be acceptable, except for the fact he’s, "brown-blonde haired with an olive complexion and looks like one of these Greek statues". To compound the external barriers they must initially deal with; both Maya and her lover bring scars and flaws from earlier in their lives. Within the context of the relationship, the book addresses societal issues, such as interracial relationships, single parent families, substance abuse and domestic violence. It also examines cultural taboos such as sexual abuse, lesbian relationships, and mental illness. These concerns are dealt with in a straight forward, realistic manner as presented through the eyes of Maya and a cast of colorful yet troubled characters. For Troubled Black Girls, will make you happy and make you sad. You will experience every emotion in between those two extremes. But more than anything, it’ll make you reflect. It will make you examine yourself and your views on love, life, and spirituality.
About the Author
Rodney Thompson has over 20 years of experience in the Mental Health-Substance Abuse field as a Clinical Counselor. This practice has given him an extensive knowledge of such taboo subjects as personality disorders, sexual abuse, drug addiction, mental illness, and societal mores. Furthermore, growing up a black male in the de facto segregated south, he provides an interesting and unique perspective on racism, sexism, interracial relationships, and other culturally significant phenomenon.
Mr. Thompson is employed full time as a Teacher in the Charlott-Mecklenbeerg (N.C.) public school system, and part time as a Mental Health Counselor for Pathways Mental Health (Gastonia, N.C.). He has a BA degree in Sociology and a Masters degree in Administration from Winthrop University (Rock Hill S,. C.). He has been married 15 years to his lovely wife Renee, and has two beautiful daughters, Ashley and Jillian.
He and his brother Donald have jointly completed a book of poetry entitled Pigs Feet and Collard Greens, the Ins, and Outs, and all about Life, Love and the Blues.