Jephtée Elysée graduated with honors in commerce from the University of Ottawa. An advocate for entrepreneurship, she believes that youth should be exposed to entrepreneurship at an early age and should be encouraged to look into self-employment as an option when considering their career. She gives back to the community by mentoring youth and newcomers.
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My dearest brother, cousins and adoptive little brothers,
I wanted to take the time to write you this letter in light of all the media coverage of black youth killings
over the past few months. I know reading a letter from your sister is not “cool” but I hope you do take the
time to read it because this is my heart’s cry for you and what I hope to teach my son one day.
Many of you are teenagers who are becoming more aware of your environment. You are feeling confused
and frustrated because the world does not seem to be a fair place. Let me be straight with you: YOU ARE
RIGHT. This is not a fair world, not only to you (as a black man) but also to many others (aboriginals,
women, poor people and so on).
In my opinion, the past generations have done you a disservice by letting you believe that racial tension is
a thing of the past. Yes, we have come a long way as a society. You are living in a much better world than
your ancestors but you are definitely not living in a world where everybody is treated equally.
My goal with this letter is not to talk about unfairness or injustice. What I want to talk about is how you
can, as a young black man growing up in this society, put yourself above that injustice. How you can
become the kind of person that the “system”, whether fair or unfair, can’t affect.
Here is my advice to you to achieve this:
1. Educate yourself: in this world education is key. An uneducated person, regardless of race, will
always be a victim and vulnerable. Stay in school or go back to school (never too late). Whatever
you do, GET AN EDUCATION.
2. Stay away from the justice system: I know being a teenager/youth is often equal to being reckless
and try “stupid” stuff. Unfortunately as a black boy, you cannot afford a bad decision because the
justice system is never on your side. Where your other friends will get a pass because it’s their
“first” strike, you WILL NOT. One offense; that’s all it takes for you to get a criminal record and
you would have pretty much closed most of the doors in your life. I have seen it… many times
and I am telling you that your best bet is to STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.
3. Stay out of poverty: you are living in a world where a person’s worth is measured by his financial
status. Sadly, this world is merciless to people in need. So, get an education, have a great
career/business and bring value to your community. BE SUCCESSFUL.
4. Get rid of anger: you guys are carrying so much anger that it’s eating you alive. Whatever the
cause may be, LET IT GO. It’s only eating you alive and nobody else. By letting it go, you will
be able to think clearly and remain calm when you will face those unfair/racist situations. You
will surely face them; so, you need to be of a sound mind when you do.
5. Be you: lastly, I want you to be you. You are smart, talented, handsome, sportive, competitive,
respectful, caring, loving, men of God. You have so much to offer to this world; DON’T LET
ANYONE STOP YOU, whether by their words or actions, from being you, a great citizen.
If I know you guys as well as I think I do, you are thinking : “I know people who have done all this and
still putting up with all the crap” (see, I am thinking like you guys ). You are absolutely right
(remember I admitted from the get go this is not a fair world) but the difference is when you find yourself
in a sticky situation the outcome will be very different.
Let me give you a simple example that you are too well (or soon will be) familiar with: You are 25 years
old, driving home after a great date. You are happy and music is jamming (yup; if I was in the car I would
be saying to turn it down). All of a sudden, lights are flashing in your rear-view mirror. You check and
you are within the speed limit… you clinch your jaw because you are realising what is likely happening,
you know what your big crime is: “DWB aka Driving While Black”. Now here are two possible scenarios
and outcomes:Scenario 1: You are an educated, successful, well-tempered black man with a clean sheet. The officer
comes over, ask you some questions, take your ID and check you out. He comes back a few minutes later
saying “there you go! Enjoy your evening sir!”. The word “sir” came out as a mumble but he knows he
got to try to be nice because it’s obvious what he just did. You reallyyy want to tell this guy what you
think but you don’t; instead, you know who to call/email to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Scenario 2: You are an uneducated, poor, boiling with anger black man with a previous offence (yup; you
stole cigarettes a few years back). The officer comes over, asks you a million questions (which will
rightfully frustrate you); and, well, that tongue of yours that your mom have been trying so hard to tame
will unleash… and the officer wanting to show you who is the boss (btw he is in this situation) will ask
you to step out of the car, only to realize “damn this is a real big black man”. Now the poor cop with a
gun will be so terrified that he has time to ask himself “can I legally kill this guy”. I think by now you
know that when you are in this situation, it is too late. You are as good as dead… and remember: the law
is rarely (if ever) on your side. Even if it is, you are already dead.
So which guy would you rather be? I will answer for you: you owe it to your sisters, mother, father,
grandparents, friends and me to be the man who is always ABOVE the system.
I love you guys very much and will continue to pray for guidance for you.
From your sister/godmother/friend
JE
P.S.: I tried to keep it under one page. Sorry
P.P.S.: You guys are lucky that I am sending this now; my first thought was to put it in a box, wrap it and
make it your Christmas gift