double negative (brayden weston)

8

★★★

regina smith accompanied remiah in her canonical studies class. as she was talking to brushandria's mom, shaundria. while remiah and brushaudria talked about the basketball game happening tomorrow.

"okay class, let's get started." professor simmons said as tariq walked inside the class looking around before finding a seat. "great. uh welcome parents, to canonical studies. if you're unfamiliar this is a interdisciplinary course that exposes freshman to the western canon. our focus on fundamental text fortifies their foundations before they continue their studies or go off to run the world. professor reynolds, please?"

"so this week, we are dissecting invisible man. show of hands how many parents here have actually read it?" professor reynolds asked as nearly all the parents raised their hands including regina.

"oh um it's been awhile, but i think i recall how the book portrays not only the effects of overt racism, but also the depersonalization of race blindness." lauren's mom, sheryl, said.

"mom-"

"very well put. i certainly see where lauren gets it from."

"how is this book relevant in a course about fundamental taxes?" philip, ashely's dad asked causing remiah and regina to roll their eyes.

"dad!"

"the text is a metaphor to illustrate the racial divide in america. how is that not relevant?" professor simmons said smirking at philip.

"i know that's right professor simmons!" remiah said clapping as did regina.

"ooh, i like him!" shaudria said pointing at professor simmons before philip looked back. "you can turn around."

"ralph ellison writes, 'i've been trying to look through myself. and there's risk in it. i was never more hated than when i tried to be honest.' how do we interpret that?" professor reynolds asked the class looking around. "mr. st. patrick, what do you think?"

"well, i think he's right. you know that's how life works." tariq said sitting up in his seat. "people only like to hear what they wanna hear. the truth is usually ugly, and they don't wanna hear that. they want to hear their own version of it."

"i think a mature person is always honest, even if other people don't like it." lauren spoke up with a smile.

"mm, nice answer, honey."

"nobody is always honest." brushaundria said looking over at lauren and sheryl.

"mm, better answer, honey."

"they're always competitive." regina whispered to remiah as they both laughed.

"so, students, maybe we should share with our parents some of the excerpts from our invisible man papers."

"professor reynolds is a creep though he sleeps with students." remiah said as the two walked through the hallway talking about classes and remiah's professors.

"the fuck? and the administration board hasn't done anything?"

"nobody's reported it since it's just "rumors" i saw it with my own eyes though, but i don't have proof."

"if he tries doing something to you losing his job is going to be the least of his worries." regina said looking over at where she saw jabari reynolds talking to tariq st. patrick. "so besides brushaundria any new friends? boyfriends? girlfriends? you know i'll support you on whoever you date as long as they make my baby happy."

"yeah mom i know. no boyfriend or girlfriend. i have made a friend though." remiah said before pointing to tariq. "i'd like you to meet him too, come on." she dragged regina over to tariq who was walking away from professor reynolds. "tariq! i'd like you to meet my mom, regina smith."