Dear Melanie,

            Before you put this down, know this: as your mother, I only want what is best for you because I love you. You are a good daughter and a good woman. I want to apologize for sometimes being too pushy and enforcing my views upon your life, like I did last time I visited you in your apartment. Because I too know that it is hard being a black woman in our society. But I also want to tell you some things I’ve been thinking and why.

            Personally, I believe that you living in the dump of a place you call home isn’t right. You come from a respectable family. But it isn’t even about that. It’s about what’s right for you. Just because nicer neighborhoods have more white folk doesn’t mean you shouldn’t or couldn’t live there.  And that neighborhood really isn’t right for you. Now I know you may completely disagree with me, but just try and see where I’m coming from. I said it last week and I’ll say it again: you don’t have to live in a slum to be worried about social conditions, Melanie.

Once you have children you will understand. Speaking of having children, I think it is high time you settle down in a house, with a man, and seriously start considering a family. While I know you are most likely rolling your eyes while reading this, please hear me out. Family is the most important thing. For me, it’s brought the happiest moments of my life. I want that same happiness for you too. Your neighborhood is no place for a child, just look at your neighbor Cora Lee; her children will end up in the streets. And with those good-for-nothing boys roaming the streets, you need to get out of there.

 I know you want to be with our people but you don’t have to do that to still be happy and a proud black woman. You took the African name, Kiswana, to feel connected to your roots, but God almighty, Melanie, you were named after your Grandmother, and that name is deep in your roots too. You may see me as cowardly because I’m not out there protesting. But I know things have gotten so much better for us, there isn’t a rush; all things get better with time, and by pushing it, you only exhaust it.