When I was a child, my Mother bought me a little red coat to wear to school and church and every where. I was tested in the third grade and my IQ was 107, according to my teachers. The school said that I could try to fit into the Enrichment program at my school. I was the only black child in almost the whole school. They didn’t think I’d survive, but my mom pleaded with Mrs. Metzger to give me a chance. She actually cried at them. I got called a lot of things, but I learned a lot of good information. Even foreign languages. I really didn’t like school, but it was a means to advance and achieve goals. When I grew up and married at 17, I was more approached on the basis of my physical features. When I was raped, I didn’t shoot my attacker, because I wanted to raise my own children. That happened at least three times. I washed off the evidence, but not the damage of abuse. Some people’s plans for my life were different than mine. Some people’s goals for my life are much worse than mine. My faith in my Yahweh, has given me survival and motivation to continue to the end. I trust in His judgment to be righteous and not abusive.

I am 70 now, and I bought my own red coat.