DEAR MY BEST FRIEND

For years, we watched Sarafina and we both agreed to it being our favorite movie. However after all these years of watching that movie, I finally really got it. It was on the other night on DSTV (South African satellete television) and I really cried the whole movie. Even if I did tear up before, I really cried this time. Simply, I knew where Parktown was now. I felt how she felt visiting her mother in the suburbs working as a maid while they lived in the townships. I knew the looks that the people were given by the other race like they are nothing. Most of all, I felt the result to prayer because they are just tried of everything and they just hoping for their day to come. I FELT THAT BECAUSE I AM HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA NEARLY 14 YEARS LATER. Even if it has been settled through government, its still new of togetherness and people are really trying. There are people coming together but they are some people who just could never forget on both sides. Oh! best friend...you know my heart better than anyone and you know i operate on it always. To tell the truth, I believe my work in dance could contribute on bring togetherness by just simply raising the question. I went through racism in the states and now I am here. I know that I could not ever escape it. But it has been such a vital part in my life, I could at least try to give the chance of people having awareness to it. With an awareness, it gives room for change. To my best friend, I know that I could not change the entire world but I will try to change 3/4 of it. Thank you for still pushing me to my ultimate being!

DEAR DADDY:

As the month of June passed, I remember you because June was your month. In the same month of June, it’s your birthday and father’s day. I did call you on father’s day and I was so excited to hear your voice that I did not say Happy Birthday. But I did remember your birthday but unfortunately I had no airtime on my phone. So I decided to tell you how much I love you all in one phone call. By the way, AIRTIME has happened to mean MINUTES in South Africa.

Oh daddy! Could you believe that it has been a year since I left the states? Being in South Africa, I have learned so much. Even that I am going through ups and downs here, I am so happy to be here. The one thing that drove me to stick it out was your words a year ago.

We were in Greenwood, South Carolina at the lake. You said to both my brother and I: “One day that we should surpass you in achievements in life because that was how the world will grow.” I believed that I have done just that. With your spirit of dreaming in me, I went to see for myself what was out there.

I could not express in words what I have seen and felt here. As my year in South Africa goes by, I do wonder if it has happened to be my time to go or if I am just beginning the journey. What ever I decide, I know you will be behind me.

I know this because you’re the best dad in the world because you dealt with me all these years. It was your life experiences that raised me into the best woman that I could be. Now I completely have an understanding of the way you raised me. I believe that I could accomplish anything.

You have let me go out into world, I hope you know that I am searching for something that I could not even tell you what myself. But thank you for just being there for me.

I hope you know that I am not away from family but I have placed myself in the biggest challenge of my life to find my inner self on my own. With this said, I do miss you dearly. All your jokes, quotes, laugh, and even you cutting the grass with that big tractor…..

Daddy! I felt it in my heart that after a year things are coming together here in South Africa. And even if I am stepping into womanhood, I am still your little girl and no one could take that away.