I've drafted this particular entry more times than I'd like to admit. It's ironic really for someone that likes writing and talking so much it's always been harder for me to articulate my thoughts. I'll blame it on the passion. I get overwhelmed with how much I want to express depending on the topic at hand. Well, today's topic is boys and girls. As I mentioned already this entry has been in the works for some time now because I couldn't quite focus on each concept I wanted to cover. I tend to go on tangents whenever I talk about what the youth means to me. While listening to Jaden Smith's new album 'Cool Tapes Volume 3' I finally reached the last song, it was titled, Boys and Girls. Now before I get into the significance that specific song has to me I want to briefly talk about how great the album as a whole was. It was cool because in most of his songs he conveyed the beauty of longing for a woman (classic Jaden) but he also threw in a few that acknowledged today's social climate, Boys and Girls being one of them. An anthem empowering the youth, a brilliant way to conclude an album if you ask me. Other than my fondness of the album as a whole, why was the song Boys and Girls noteworthy you ask? Well because I think people are extremely powerful, limitless even, and the message is perfect for the topic I'm getting at today.
So part of the reason I haven't blogged in so long is because I was working full time as a camp counselor. Best job in the world, I could honestly gush about it all day long but because I don't want to bore you all less than halfway through this entry I won't bunny trail (any more than I already have). Anyways, being able to work and interact with kids is one of the coolest things ever to me because it's like, they're the hope. I have the opportunity to help mold the future, the next inhabitants of planet earth, our real-life avengers. There's a line in Boys and Girls where it goes, "You say we're only boys and girls, I say we can change the world. The future lies within the boys and girls," and when I say teared up a little I'm not joking. Maybe it was the melody, I don't know, it hit me kinda crazy. In all seriousness, I felt strongly about that because I truly believe that with everything in me.
Regardless of age, I believe anyone has the potential to but I always emphasize kids especially because if we nurture their ideas and address their incredible capability when they're young imagine how much change they'd make. Children are quite literally the future so I've never understood why one would choose negligence over vigilance when it comes to them. I have always hated the "you're just a kid," narrative because kids possess so many admirable characteristics I believe many adults should keep throughout their lifetime. One of them being curiosity.
Coming back to a predominantly white camp in a pandemic and BLM peaking again it was interesting seeing how the kids would react; in all honesty, I didn't think they would even acknowledge it, but they did and that alone surprised me. One of my kids approached me within the first week of camp and said, "Ms. Kiarra, I understand the protest but not the riots and looting. What does that do?" Mind you, the kid was a rising 6th grader. Crazy. My favorite part about that was the fact that he came to me with genuine curiosity. The intent wasn't to challenge me but it was to further his understanding. Wild. Dude, kids are incredible.
Throughout the summer I remained in awe at the ambition and courage I saw in these kids. They allowed almost nothing to stop them. My kids told me I should start my own camp. I told them that was impractical and I probably could never do it. The next day one of my campers came to camp with a checklist of what needed to be done in order to get a camp up and running, another made logos, and a few more planned a meeting so we could discuss further plans. Like, what??? They really gave me no room for excuses. They really said the world is my oyster and I love them for that.
I'm gonna be real with ya'll because ya'll my homies, I'm pretty emotional writing this. I really hope you all care about the youth as much as I do after reading this. But I'll stop being dramatic and get to my last point. Another line that stuck out to me in Boys and Girls went, "If the world turned dark and fell apart you still have the love light in your hard," and I lost it, man. To me that line related to and child, teenager, young adult living in the 20th century. We live in a world that has never really been easy to live in at times but the resilience, resourcefulness, and creativity I've seen displayed by the youth in response to hard times are impressive. One of my kids was devastated having to be home for school after camp ending and not being able to see any of her friends for a while so she started writing a book. Who does that? I was so proud of that attitude. It really is a simple attitude to have. There is a problem, find the source of that problem, plan a way to rid of the problem, execute it. If there's darkness be the light, Uncle Iroh type beat.
In conclusion, the youth exist to avenge the fallen. This entry was about the kids but we all should maintain a child-like outlook on the world to some extent, so it's applicable to anyone really. I don't know how to properly end this entry so I'll leave you with this, go listen to the Cool Tapes Volume 3. I love you.
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