Can't Change the Past

~7~

Bey POV

"When are you going home exactly?" Michelle asked.
"Y'all tired of me already?"
"Of course not. We missed you but it's been a couple of days since you've seen Jay." They stayed longer since their parents decided to take a last minute cruise.
"Well he would have been at work while I was at home and I would have been at school while he stayed with King. That's what our routine is since I've started school."
"Bey, you've only went home to get clothes and that was like twice."
"Have you called him to at least let him talk to King?" Kelly asked.
"Every night before King goes to sleep."
"That's it. You've been in a funk for too long. We're going to take you to lunch."
"I'm at school."
"Girl your last class ends at 11 on Fridays. We're on our way with King and we're going to take you out and then you're going back to your man."
"Whatever." I hung up and gathered my stuff leaving to go to my last class, African American History.
"Hey, I'm looking for room 1708. Do you know where it is?"
"Yeah I'm actually headed there now."
"Can I walk with you?"
"Sure, I'm Beyoncé."
"I'm Peyton."
"Nice to meet you."
"So what made you take this class?"
"I wanted to know more about my history besides the glossed over version from high school."
"I know what you mean. I used to think the Underground Railroad was an actual train the way they described it to me."
I stopped and looked to see if she was joking, "You serious?"
"Yeah but then someone explained it to me."
"Oh, wow. Um we're here." We walked in and I sat in the front.
"Can I sit with you? I don't really know anyone here."
"Sure."
"Good morning class." Professor Roberts said. "Today's class will be short or long depending on the amount of participation there is."
Peyton raised her hand, "How short are we talking?"
"Thirty minutes tops. So let's begin. Now last class I asked you all to think about what black history meant to you. I'd like to hear your answers."
"Black history is the progression from slavery to the White House." someone yelled out.
"Anyone else?"
"Overcoming being oppressed by the white man." Peyton said.
"Let me ask this. Where do you think black history started?"
"When they took us from Africa." one boy said.
"Well some Africans did betray others and help them become captured." a girl retorted.
"Aye, who's side are you on?"
"I'm just telling it like it is. We always want to say that the white man came and took us from Africa. But some of us were handed over to them by are fellow African."
"Well I was born here in America. Nobody handed me over to nobody." another girl said.
"So do you not consider that part of your history?"
"I mean nobody directly took me from my home and sent me across an ocean. I know it happened but I just don't connect with that part of history. I relate more to the Civil Rights Era."
"Yeah that's because we're living in our own version." the same boy said.
"What's your name son?"
"James Ashton."
"James, you seem to be 'woke' as the kids say these days. But why do you think African American History started with slavery?"
"Because that's when we really started making our mark on the world. They took us from our land to work their land, which they stole from the Native Americans, and it just proved how hard working we were. I mean they could have went to any continent in the world but they chose us."
"That sounds stupid." I said. "You realize you just contradicted yourself? What do you think Africans were doing before Europeans came to get them?"
"Well-"
"Ruling nations as Kings and Queens. Being successful business people controlling trade routes. And newsflash, Africans had slaves too."
"Now I know you lying. Africans had slaves? Then why were they trying to run away from slavery here?"
"Because slavery in Africa was different. They had to be educated and families couldn't be torn apart. Slaves in Africa were treated like actual people unlike here in America."
"Very good Ms...."
"Beyoncé."
"Beyoncé. Well class this discussion will continue next week. Don't forget to read pages 118 to 163. There might be a pop quiz."
I got my bag and headed right out the door. "Girl you shut him up in there." Peyton said behind me.
"It's just so irritating. People so 'woke' and half the time they don't know what they're talking about."
"I hear you. So what are you doing for the rest of the day?"
"My friends are taking me to lunch."
"Sounds fun."
"What about you?"
"I have to go to my uncle's job. My dad thinks I want to be a cop so he sent me here to get a criminal justice degree and intern with him. I really just wanted to be down here in Florida to party."
"Your uncle's a cop?"
"You could say that."
"My boyfriend's a cop too. He might know him."
"Really? That's cool. But aren't you like really young?"
"Yeah but he's got a lot of experience so that's what ultimately landed him the job."
"Cool, well I'll see you next week Beyoncé." she waved and left.
My phone vibrated with a text from Jay.