Dear Mama,

ive been fighting the temptation to go to war with the world—My pain hurts that much! i can you hear U saying:

“Joseph what’s that going to solve? I lived a full life. What I expect from you now is being there for my daughters, your sons, and my other grandchildren. Be the best damn man i know you can be like my father!”

The boy in me won’t his mother to still be here, but the man in me overstand this is the next step in my manhood—To be the Man U raised me to be and to carry on your tradition.

U came from good stock: Minnie & Walter. Walter having a heart of gold and being the best example of manhood, you’ve ever seen. Minnie having the grit and determination to being the best woman you’ve ever seen. They raised U to be the best mother and woman your children and grandchildren has ever seen.

Unfortunately, Black women like yourself faces many oppressive stigmas; being a single mom, having children by multiple men etc.—It was in your victimhood that U developed your womanhood. Your womanism and you’ve never read Alice Walker.

U transcended words such as being “strong” into becoming PHENOMENAL:

A phenomenal mother…

A phenomenal Black woman…

A phenomenal grandmother…

A phenomenal neighbor…

A phenomenal teacher…

A phenomenal leader

A phenomenal giver…

A phenomenal lover…

A phenomenal friend…

A phenomenal businesswoman…

A phenomenal community mother…

A phenomenal human being…

A phenomenal SUPERHEOR…

U taught me so many lessons like don’t be afraid to make tough decisions, even if the world is against U—Let them play catch up. U never fucked over nobody that’s why your name is good in these streets and why my name is good in these streets because i inherited that from U.

Being AUTHENTIC was your religion…

Being TRANSPARENT was your mission…

Being HELPFUL was your ministry…

Being WITTY was organic…

Being REAL was your truth…

Being PHENOMENAL was who U are…

im honored to be an extension of your legacy—Everything i do from this point on is to add to your legacy. From now on any problem i encounter i will ask myself “What would Ava Jo do?”

i don’t need to tell U how much i love U because U already knew—Just know i got your daughters and grandchildren the way U had me.

i love you forever and a day your Hope

Joseph/Yusef