George Floyd called out for his mom. The tragedy moved North Carolina’s Ocir Black to collect letters from Black mothers to their sons.
While many were trying to find books to read during the pandemic, Winston-Salem high school student Ocir JaRon Black wrote a book titled “Love Letters to My Son.”
With the help of his mom, JaMese, Ocir worked on the book during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and collaborated with North Carolina moms, asking them to write letters to their sons.
Following the killing of George Floyd last summer, Ocir was inspired to create the book in order to help change negative perceptions about Black men.
“He wanted to find his own space during the (Black Lives Matter) movement,” said JaMese. “And he wanted to find a way to do it, in a sense of reflection versus an automatic response.”
We know North Carolina. Subscribe to the Cardinal & Pine newsletter here.
“Love Letters to My Son” addresses race, mental health, and financial literacy. The book was also written from mothers to sons of all ages.
The idea was inspired by Ocir’s late grandmother, Sallie Morris-Redd, an educator from Virginia who used to write letters to the family.
“I wanted this book to teach people…what mothers have to teach,” said Ocir.
Ocir, a student athlete and tutor, says he wants to be a criminal and civil rights attorney.
Ocir and JaMese are currently working on a sequel which features letters from sons to their mothers. The book is scheduled for release this summer.
Politics
Opinion: My aunt died of an illegal abortion. We can’t go back.
When I was growing up, I was always closer to my mom. She was easier to talk to. Whenever I had a problem or was concerned about something, the...
Trump says he would allow red states to track pregnancies, prosecute abortion ban violators
In an interview published by Time magazine this week, former president Donald Trump detailed his plans for a potential second term and said he would...
Local News
Does NC have more serial women poisoners than anywhere else? Getting to know NC true crime writer Cathy Pickens
Charlotte's Cathy Pickens is the NC author of the Blue Ridge Mountain Mysteries, a local true crime series. We had some burning questions for her....
NASA astronaut Christina Koch receives highest NC honor
Gov. Cooper honored NASA astronaut and North Carolina native Christina Koch while highlighting the state’s strong public schools. At a recent event,...