Afrothology

Ms. Lauryn

"Now today is the day we need to make our voices heard. NOW! NOT TO TOMORROW NOT THE DAY AFTER THAT! NOW!" The crowd applauded abundantly. I looked above them, nodded my head like a proud mother. "I look around and see people who are capable of changing the society of today. The white people don't want to hear us. But they need too. And We, this generation, shall make this known. Wear y'all dashikis and wear y'all Afros PROUDLY. Say it with me. IM BLACK AND IM PROUD." I put up my fist in the the air.

"IM BLACK AND IM PROUD." They yelled back repeatedly. "IM BLACK AND IM PROUD!"

  I clapped as I stepped of the podium with strong pride in me. People patted me on my back with huge smiles. Letting me know
I'm doing something good for my people.

  My bodyguards rushed and helped me in to the black B&W car that had  The Black Panther Party logo on the passenger door.

"Thank you Joe." I smiled to the big dark skin man. He nodded as a responds.

"Yo yo yo Lauryn! The speech. Geesh" Flip drove off. I grin from ear to ear.

"You did ya thing up there girl. Making us proud and shit." Jess said in the back seat.

" 'I'm black and I'm proud' " Flip mocked me in my "voice"

I lightly shoved him and open the Popeyes box Jess passed me "You know I had to do my thang. Ain't nothing but a chicken wang." I bit in my chicken leg.

"Everybody going back to the house. You comin' ?" Jess asked has he Lean between the two front seats.

I was silent for a moment to swallow my food. Contemplating if I should tell them. I shook my head. "Nah I don't think so....I'm gonna go visit Huey."

"Our Huey?" Flip glanced at me then moved his eyes back on the road.

I rolled my eyes. "Nah duh. What other Huey do you know? Yes our Huey." I furrowed my eyes. "Why y'all shocked. People can't go visit him?"

"Nah Nah. We ain't saying that. It's just—"

Jess interrupted.  "YOU'RE going."

Flip swung his arm to the back to hit Jess without taking his eyes off the road.

••••••••••••••••=

"Excuse me." The woman kept talking to the guard next to her. "Excuse me." I said sternly.

The pale skin lady looked up at my hair in somewhat disgust. I smirked a little back.

"Name." She popped her gum and grabbed her clipboard

I cleared my throat softly. "Lauryn"

"Last name." The woman said plainly.

"Freeman. Lauryn Freeman."

She flipped through, what seems like a thousands of papers. She check of my name. "Here to see Huey Newton?"

"Yeah I am."

She sighed. "Go through that door." She pointed to my right. She gave me my name tag "Go through the security. And yeah they'll tell you the rest." She waves her hand in a lazy way.

I chuckled quietly and shook my head.

I walked to the door and went through the whole security bullshit. Take off this, take of that. Can't bring that in there. They even told me that off my "wig"... I know they lying.

"Just because I don't have dog hair like you, doesn't mean my hair is fake." I put my shoes on. "This my hair thank you. It grew my scalped." I fixed my clothes. "Well shit Y'all the ones who created wigs." I pat my Afro and put my purse on my shoulder. I looked at them up and down. "Y'all have a nice day, you hear?" I gave them a somewhat smile that went away real fast.

I walked down the hallway to the room 231.

"Lauryn Freeman?" The guard ask. I nod. He open the door, revealing the man I came to see, seating at a table in handcuffs. "No hugging no touching. No exchange of any sort. And y'all are on camera. I will be outside this door."

I nod and gave a slight smile. "Thank you officer."

"Heyyy how's my Babygirl? " Huey spoke

"Hi Dad. I'm doing awesome." I grinned from ear to ear. "I spoke today" i said across from him.

He smiled. "That's my girl. Following your father footsteps. How did you do?"

I chuckled. "Everybody told me I did good. So I'm guessing I did excellent."

"Good good." His smiles faded. He rubbed his close hands together. "How's the Panthers?"

"We're doing ...alright."

"Lauryn." He looked at me hard with his dark color eyes. "How are they doing?"

"Dad they're fine. The police still on our ass like always. But the children...The FBI is trying to shut down the free food program."

"Them fucking pigs." He said in anger quietly.

"We're doing everything we can Dad. Trust me. We got it. I got it." I grabbed his hands. He nodded. I released them before the officer saw. "How are you?"

He smiled softly. "I'm good. I'm good"

I furrowed my eyebrows. And looked at him hard. "No dad. Like how are you? Really?"

"Im. holding on babygirl. I am." He sighed. "I'm just waiting to get the fuck out. You know?" He chuckled.

It saddens me that he's trying to look happy on the outside for me. He try so hard to make me feel better. But I know him better than anyone really. He's my dad.

"When's your next trial?"

He sighed "next Wednesday"

"What time?"

He looked at me with sad eyes. "Babygirl you don't have to go."

"Why not?" I said confused. "Why don't you want me to go?" He was silent. "I wanna go."

"I just don't want you to go." He snapped. I slightly jumped. "You understand?!"

I nodded my head, still confused. I'm still going regardless.