ultimately there is no female or male, only Being.

I came into the world

fast and fierce.

So quick, my shoulders got stuck 

and they had to do the McRoberts maneuver 

so I could 

squeeze 

out 

of my mommy.

 

I took my first steps at 8 months old,

began running shortly after that,

and haven’t stopped yet.

 

In preschool, 

when I was star of the week, 

I brought brown brown baby 

AND my light saber to share.

When I was three,

I told everyone to call me Jack 

but I also liked the name Alexia.

 

By the time I was five, 

I refused to wear anything in the girls section.

Booty shorts, crop tops and sparkles everywhere 

were just 

not 

my 

thing.

 

My mom finally bought me 

basketball shorts, 

comfortable tees 

and Nike or Curry shoes. 

 

I’ve always loved playing with the boys 

because I love sports.

For some reason, 

if you have friends that are boys,

some adults think that makes you boyfriend & girlfriend.

Pssst, I’m in second grade, 

that is really shameful.

 

My dad never called me his little princess. 

I don’t think it was a conscious choice.

He has a way of seeing people 

and it was like, 

he 

sees 

me. 

I’m more of a super hero 

or warrior 

or ninja. 

 

In first grade, 

I played basketball in a league 

and it drove my mom crazy 

because sometimes our all girl team 

had to play an all boy team. 

Now girls, 

can ball. 

I can dribble down the court and get a lay up.

One time I shot a turnaround fade away,

swoosh, 

and I’m pretty good at defense. 

But the teams were not evenly balanced on a skill level 

and our team would get demolished. 

 

My mom said, Why don’t they make the league co-ed? 

Right away the other moms said, Oh, the boys won’t pass to girls. 

My mom’s facial expression in response was hilarious. 

I know she was mad. 

She said, They better learn.

 

My brother is older and his team was co-ed. 

The fiercest girl on his team was the smallest. 

She had no fear. 

And the tallest, strongest girl on his team was snatching all the rebounds. 

My dad said she just needed to work on her shot. 

 

I pretty much only play with boys at recess. 

My best friends are boys 

and they include me and pass the ball to me. 

One time, my friend laughed at me 

when I was learning how to play kick back, 

but now I can kick the ball further and higher than him. 

I just never give up when I want to learn something.

 

All of these boys play with me at school 

and my brother plays with girls on his team. 

So, why do mothers think boys won’t pass to girls? 

Why don’t they teach them to pass to girls and include girls? 

 

I sometimes see those bumper stickers, “Boy Mom.”

People think boys and girls are so different 

and treat us differently, 

but ultimately there is no female or male, 

only Being. 

 

It’s kind of like how my mom tries to explain that 

there is no Black or white race, 

but people are treated differently 

because of their race.

 

Boys and girls can be liberated from their gender 

if parents would just get out of the way 

and let us 

Be. 

1 comment

  • Beautiful!

    @itsmechrisjohnson

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