4 Things You Heard While Growing Up Black

I think one of the special things about being black, specifically in America, is this seemingly one experience we all shared while we grew up. Whether it was your grandma telling you to go cut a switch from outside, or that jar of bacon grease that almost every black family had, you’ll definitely find that a lot of black people in America have similar memories from growing up. Here’s four things you most likely heard if you grew up in a black household.

You got McDonald’s Money?

All of us as kids would get instantly excited if we saw a McDonald’s coming up while we were strapped in in the back seat of the car. Those toys you would get in the happy meal was the truth. But, I can almost guarantee that if you asked “Mom can we get some McDonald’s?” she would respond with something like “You got McDonald’s money?” Now why were our parents so cruel? They didn’t give us an allowance so of course I never had money for McDonald’s!

You better be home before the street lights came on!

I’m sure all of us loved going to our friend’s houses or hanging outside when we were younger.It was the one thing you looked forward to after you finished your homework and waited for one of your parents to get home. But, amongst many stipulations of leaving the house was that you better be back home before the street lights came on…or else.

We got food at home!

Now every black child knew not to ask their parents to get any food while they were out and about because 9 times/10, you were told that you don’t need to get any food because we have food at home.

I’m NOT one of your Little Friends!

We all knew as a child to never talk back to our parents because there were always serious consequences (catching a whopping) if you did. Now on the rare occasion that you did fix your mouth to talk back to your mom, sometimes she would cut you some slack before reaching for the belt and she would say “Who you think you talking to? I’m not one of your little friends!”

#David