Coffee Will Make You Black Read Free Page A

didn’t care. I remembered how Mama and Daddy had called me and David in from playing to watch Dr. King give his “I Have a Dream” speech on TV, two summers ago. When Dr. King said the part about having a dream that one day he would live in a country where his four little children would be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, I looked over at Mama and she had tears running down her face. It was the only time I’d ever seen her cry except at her father’s funeral when I was five. David had asked Mama why she was crying. Mama had answered, “Because he makes me proud to be a negro.” Next thing we knew Daddy’s eyes were wet, and by the time Dr. King ended with “Free at last, Free at last, thank God Almighty, we’re free at last,” shivers were running down my spine.
    â€œIf you ever get a chance to hear Dr. King speak, pay close attention to his command of the English language,” Mama continued.
    I cleared my throat as I sat on the bed, hoping Mama could take a hint. It was obvious that Denise and Gail didn’t want to be bothered.
    â€œWell, I’ve got a chicken to cut up. You girls have fun this afternoon and, Jean, as soon as your company leaves, clean this place up. You should be ashamed for anyone to see your room looking like this.”
    Denise and Gail rolled their eyes when Mama hit the door.
    â€œDog, is she always like that?” Denise wanted to know.
    â€œNo,” I lied. I felt embarrassed to even be connected to Mama.
    â€œWell, that’s good, is she a English teacher or something?” Gail wrinkled her forehead.
    â€œNo, she’s a bank teller.”
    I forgot about Mama and went back to wondering why Denise and Gail had come over in the first place.
    â€œDo you all want to play Monopoly?”
    â€œNo, not today.” Gail smiled.
    â€œJacks?”
    Denise shook her head. “Some other time.”
    â€œBarbie dolls?” I asked, willing to forget I’d ever been a tomboy.
    â€œStevie, did you know that me and Michael are cousins?”
    I looked at Gail’s face to see if they favored each other. They did, sort of.
    â€œNo, Gail, I never really knew that.”
    â€œWell, we are. Anyway, dig up, I hear you been talking to Michael.”
    â€œWell, he just passed me a note, we didn’t actually talk yet.”
    â€œWe knows all about the note. Do you call yourself digging Michael or not?” Denise jumped in.
    I wondered if Denise was his cousin too. I couldn’t tell from their faces if I was supposed to dig Michael or not. I felt like I was on Perry Mason.
    â€œWell, I think he’s cute, and I think he’s really cool. I’m not sure if I know him enough to dig him or not. We’ve never really had a conversation. The note was a big surprise. I didn’t even know he was paying me any attention.”
    â€œWhen he sent you that note asking you if you was a virgin, you put down ‘Not exactly,’” Denise reminded me.
    I stared down at my quilt and ran my fingers along the different patches.
    â€œI didn’t think I met the definition of the word totally,” I said, glancing up at Gail and Denise. They both looked interested. “I’m not completely pure and innocent. I’ve done a few things,” I admitted, remembering the time I picked some cherries off some people’s tree without asking, and other stuff along those lines.
    â€œSo who’s the boy you messed around with?” Gail asked.
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œOkay, you ain’t gotta give his name, but what did y’all do, just play with each other’s thangs?” she asked.
    I remembered the time me and my brother David had played doctor when we were four and six. “Yeah,” I nodded, trying to seem cool.
    â€œDid he stick his dick inside you?” Denise wanted to know.
    I raised my eyebrows. He was only four years old, I