Swallowing repeatedly, counting to ten, clenching/unclenching my fingers and taking deep cleansing breaths in an attempt to calm my warring emotions do not seem to be having the desired effect.
So, I am asking Father Jah to guide my tongue and help me speak only wisdom, truth and love; rebuking the anger that continues to rise in me.
The irrational, ungoverned, primal urge inna mi belly bottom wants to BLAZE FIRE ‘pon di rankin’ eeeediot dat mis-teaching mi gran-pickney ova foreign. (Translation for non-patois speakers: I am angry that uninformed minds are in a position of authority over my grandchild in America.)
The wise, mature, loving, grandmother-who-wants-to-set-a-good-example-for-her side of me needs to find a way to 1) correct the misinformation she was given 2) applaud her courage 3) help her learn kindness when dealing with mental midgets 4) minimize the effect that small minds can have on her development.
My granddaughter proudly wore one of my beaded bracelets to school.
It has the Jamaican flag on either side of her name.
Her teacher called her to his desk to tell her the bracelet promotes and advocates the smoking of marijuana! She is 12…soon to be 13 and a valiant warrioress-in-training. In what must have been an infuriating tone of voice she informed him that the bracelet was to show that she had lots of culture and since her GranMa made it, she would be wearing it.
Thanks, sweet girl, for standing up for GranMa. When we are faced with ignorance, we must meet it with the truth, with love and with a spirit that seeks only to increase understanding.
Any suggestions on how to handle this?
