My son texted me and his words were “Dad I feel my Blackness is deteriorating with every other part of me.” I haven’t replied to him yet…
Today another black cat crouched at the base of my step
Staring at me through my glass door
I went out to look for it and lost it
In the Black shadows
Beneath my Black truck
Then found it again
Staring black at me
At my Black face
Staring black at it
Crouched low by my front black tire
We stared right black at each other
My Black cat was in the house
When I initially got him
The woman at the place of rescue said
Black cats are more shy
Black cats are the last chosen
Black cats are almost invisible
Black cats have a bad reputation
Black cats get adopted much less and
Remain in cages longer and
Are abandoned more often
Black cats are misunderstood
Black cats are more often mistreated
Black cats are just…different
I began to wonder whether she was talking about
Black cats or me and my Black Kin characterized…
In this systematized penal aggregate
Dad, I feel my Blackness is deteriorating…
With every other part of me.
Notes of A Native Son 