They grew up together as best friends. He protected her on the playground and she defended him in public. They would walk together to the “colored only” dining room, hand in hand.
He sat in the front row during Sunday service and watched in awe as she praise danced. And she was so elegant that it brought tears to the members of the whole church.
She cleaned the blood from his busted lip and iced his bruises from his beating at his first sit-in. And she wiped his tears away from the pain of his second one. She felt so sad for him but still so proud.
He asked her father for his blessing. The two bought a house up north and raised 3 kids in it, telling them about their life stories. The couple celebrated every anniversary, holiday, and birthday together. And in 2009, the household watched Barack’s inauguration feeling strong, black, and proud.
The man truly loved his wife, and she truly loved her husband. And when their children were asked to describe their parents, they’d say, “Proud. Black. Love”.