“Ow! Damn, are you trying to rip out my scalp?” Carl groans for the umpteenth time in under 5 minutes. You haven’t even taken out one braid and he’s already whining like a brat.

Carl had finally gotten out of the gang he was in, feeling free from any violence in the future. It was about time he got out of the mindset of being an African American male. You were the first he had called when he finally got out of the drug gang. He wanted to give you a long apology for mocking and using your ethnicity as a joke. But you wouldn’t give him the second to utter the words.

You had broken up with him for that reason. You were hurt and offended that your boyfriend would even use your ancestors history and pain for leverage.

“Look. I’m sorry, okay? I wasn’t thinking correctly when I joined. I just…I thought that lifestyle was cool and…fun.” His tone was genuine.