A Letter From James Baldwin's Letter To My Family

There is something special about the bond between an aunt and a niece that is like no other. The aunt plays a unique role that is neither like that of mother or grandmother but that of friend and role model. On June 16th, 2002, the day you were born, was an unexceptionally ordinary day but on that day my world changed forever. Since that day I have watched you grow and learn from a small baby, to a child, to the strong, smart, beautiful young woman you are today. I remember the first time I ever held you. You were not my own child but I was awestruck by your presence and I knew from that moment on I would do anything for you, do anything to protect you. You entered this world and you were loved and still are loved immensely. Loved by your parents,

To be loved, baby, hard at once and forever to strengthen you against the loveless world”. The world can most certainly be cruel and loveless but the love of those that have shown you true love will act as a counter to that and strengthen you against it. This year you will turn sixteen and then before you or I know it you’ll be graduating and heading off to college. I write this letter in the hopes that you may understand some of the trials you will face heading off to college and into the world as a woman. As a woman you must be keenly aware of the dangers that you may face. As a woman you must be aware of other people’s expectations of you. As a woman you must be aware of the biases that are preset against

Throughout history women have been considered as intellectually inferior and the inferior sex compared to the male counterpart. We have been told that “a woman’s place is within the home” to cook, clean, and raise children. Over time, however, we have made leaps and bounds to counter that claim but there are many out there that still believe in these out-of-date thoughts. These people, I believe, are naive to the world around us and the progress we have made throughout society, or perhaps they do not like change and hold on for dear life to those beliefs. Your grandparents are some of those people. They are traditionalists. They believed that I should have been married, started a family, and became a homemaker as soon as I was able. Life did not take me down that path and I cannot help but think they are a little disappointed because of that. However, I did not let that stop me from breaking the mold that they had tried to shape me into by walking down my own path and making my own way through life, mistakes and all. I tell you these things because, as Coates stated, “You are growing into consciousness, and my wish for you is that you feel no need to constrict yourself to make other people comfortable”. Do not constrict yourself for others. Discover your own path, just as I did, and make choices that are true to you. Nevertheless, whatever you choose, know that you are so