Black Moms Can

By L'Fonzo Cameron

This book serves as both an apology to, and support of, Black Moms. It is they who protect, engage, and prepare Black youth for a rewarding life. Cameron explores the stories and struggles of single moms and the children they raise, which highlight the o

• Language: English
• Publisher: Communith Advancement Initiatives INC
• Release date: Mar 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781736343111

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All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact Black Moms Can.

www.blackmomscan.com

Consultant Editor: Nykky Cameron, G.G.Wynter

Editor: Marta Zarrella, Calling Card Books

Book Cover Design: Kate Zarrella, Calling Card Books

www.callingcardbooks.com

Copyright © 2021 By L’Fonzo Cameron

First Edition

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-7363431-0-4

E-book ISBN: 978-1-7363431-1-1

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021903940

1.Black economic empowerment 2. Economic aspects of Race relationships 3.Political aspects of Race relations.Printed in the United States of America

The stories in this book reflect the author’s recollection of events. Some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed to protect the privacy of those depicted. Dialogue has been recreated from memory.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Black Moms, whether their children are biological, or their compassion has led them to mentor and nurture the next generation. Black Moms–the lifelines connecting our intergenerational existence, past and present–are known by many individuals but unknown by the larger world. Today, teachings or rites of passage do not allow Black Americans to honor and immortalize the creator of our existence, the mother of humankind. Growing up in Gary, Indiana, as a young person, I was unable to seek out the ancient heritage that stems from various countries in Africa. I did not have the opportunity to look back and realize that Black women were placed on earth to shape and guide our lives forever.

My journey of discovery began with my grandmas, my mom, my wife, and my daughters, who all share strength from enduring exploitation of their minds, bodies, and souls. This exploitation comes from no particular race, face, gender, or class—after all, it’s a reality that often Black men have taken on the role of the oppressor. As a Black man, I would be engaging in falsehood to claim that I can conceive a Black woman’s experience. However, some of my discoveries help define the real challenges facing Black families in America. My commitment to establishing viable economic opportunities for Black women runs throughout this book.

I want the words on these pages to serve as both an apology to, and support of, Black Moms. It is they who protect, engage, and prepare Black youth for a rewarding life. The resilient traditions of Black matriarchy, as well as the current realities of single motherhood, lead me to put my faith in Black women who, with collective support from like-minded people, can redirect our youth and save the life and legacy of generations of Black families.

I want to thank the Black Moms who inspired me to pursue this mission and this book. Also, a special thank you to the parents and youth who participated in numerous social service and sports programs in my hometown of Gary, Indiana. I feel blessed to have known all of you!

I would like, to honor the lives of Shaq Ham and Little C Woods. I counseled, coached, and mentored these smart, talented inner-city kids, so full of youthful spirit, from when they were eight years old until about age 15. At 16 and 18 years old, respectively, while walking to their grandmother’s house for Sunday dinner, both were victims of a robbery and double homicide. Shaq had already become a father, and Little C was looking forward to attending college.

Also, I want to honor, as a source of personal motivation, the lives of Breonna Taylor, India Kager, Sandra Bland, Michelle Cusseaux, Kayla Moore, and Shelly Frey. These Black women were murdered during encounters with White police officers in the last several years. These acts of violence happen far too often in Black communities across the country. No one suffers more than the mothers and grandmothers, who after years of hard work and trying desperately to protect their children, lose them to tragedy.

Black Moms Can (BMC) is a call-to-order to all Black Americans, men and women, to collaborate and provide resources for Black Moms raising families, period. We understand that Black male youth’s outcomes would drastically improve if both parents were in the household. However, this is not the case for the majority of young Blacks growing up today, especially those in impoverished neighborhoods. So, how do Black families with single moms survive as we figure out how to work fathers back into the home? This is another major challenge that BMC hopes to find the answers to. We are facing the latest round of systemic racism that leaves millions of Black American youth and young adult males unemployed, incarcerated, and with the highest global homicide rate. I’ve touched on the subject of raising Black males in various chapters of this book to give Black Moms the benefit of my experience as a mentor, coach, and Youth Program Director. As a Black man, I’m confident that other Black men who have fought their way through the system will embrace BMC. It should not be seen as a Black single Mom’s