After he told her that he didn’t date black women,
She stopped eating.
She stared at him.
Honey-colored “natural” eyes
Sunny smile
Straight teeth
Her beauty was natural and clean – no makeup-but smooth, soft brown sugar skin.
She came from far away, a place in Africa, like an Eden…not a bush or Safari.
Her elegance came with perfect enunciation, her vernacular precise, and made people lean forward.
But, she left her family, her friends, her place in royalty; her blood is precious and ancient, for it is watered by the Nile.
Her walks were accompanied by lions – their full manes encircled their heads like an aura of power.
Their paws hit the dirt roads in unison and paced as slow and as meticulous as they glanced from side to side, watching for prey, guarding her – their Queen.
And now, this man, ebony, strong and tall, with a variety of languages, carried a conversation about physics, and jokes; geography and music; social justice and movies,
A man she saw from afar, a man with a white shirt, loose jeans, the $150 basketball shoes, bald head, a blue backpack, and strong model-like jaws laughed before she caught his eyes,
They had one class together – and as the professor spoke on and on – he looked over at her, and she knew it.
But why did he look? Why did he approach her? Why did he ask her to lunch just to say “I don’t date black women”?
He wasn’t her king.
He cannot walk with the lions – because the lions walk with everyone who is not afraid of anyone.
The lion walks with the Queen.
