I was born on April 16, 1980. Might seem like any other day to you, but in Louisiana that day was known as “The Circumstance.” According to prophecy, of the babies born that day, one would be gifted with a special ability. Some people tried unnatural means to have their children born that day. Some tried deliver the day before or after, not wanting to saddle an innocent soul with such a mystery. You see, no one knew what power the child would have or how it would show itself. Would it have wings? Gills? Would it see the future? Would it have the touch of death? Would it be burdened with a cosmic authority or blessed with an omnipotent grace?

Holy men from Shreveport to Cutoff flooded hospitals and harassed midwives to lay eyes on every child born that day, hoping, PRAYING, to usher in a new era in humanity. Maybe this birth would signal an age of peace and harmony in the universe, or maybe it would be a harbinger of an obsidian age like we’ve never seen before.

Then it happened. At 7:45 am, just as the HOT DOUGHNUT sign flashed red in the window of the Krispy Kreme on Plank Road, a Black infant was born. As his beautiful mother gazed upon his face, she noticed he didn’t cry. He regarded her, admired her, immediately loved her. She looked at him with an uncommon adoration and said “welcome to the world baby Van.” It was then she noticed something, the baby began to look around the modest room curiously. The mother was shocked as the infant’s eyes examined every member of the all-white delivery staff. He then looked back at his mother and said ..

“YALL COULDN’T FIND ONE NIGGA TO BRING ME INTO THIS BITCH?”

Just then a man BURST into the room. He wore a priest’s collar and spoke in a broken Cajun dialect. He said “I’ve found him. I’ve found the child.” The mother, now experiencing a mixture of bewilderment, fear, and fatigue looked at the Holy man and said “what child?” The Holy man, while praying an almost psychic prayer said “The one who will bring RACE into it.” He is here.”

That baby was me. That purpose was forged. That mission remains. That power is mine.