I never thought that hip-hop would make me cry

 This is the soundtrack to this post:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0

Driving back from a 13th birthday party.  Rissa and two friends are in the backseat near-to-collapsing from an afternoon in the blinding sun – hair still wet from a homemade Slip-n-Slide.
“Daddy!  Daddy can you please put it on ‘aux’?” Rissa asks.

David changes the stereo input.   We close the windows – put on the AC.  The opening strains of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s Same Love pipe through the car.

I wish I’d taped it.  For the first time in my life, I wish I actually had a Go Pro that sat on the dashboard facing towards the car interior.  If I had that, you’d see two adults in the front seat, sharing a look with a capital ‘L.’  You’d see three girls in the backseat rocking spoken word with Macklemore and then joining Mary Lambert as the chorus swells.

This song.  This song celebrating love.  Of all kinds.  And these girls – singing with all their hearts.  Pushing mine near to breaking because it’s so damned beautiful.

These just-turned-teenagers know the words – ALL the words – to this song.   My breath hitches.  Tears come to my eyes – I turn my head because I don’t want them to stop – which is what they’ll do if they know how hard we’re listening to them.  I put my hand on the back of David’s neck, reaching out, needing to share this connection.  To acknowledge that this hip-hop groove can change lives, change perceptions, change the world if we let it.  So proud.  So freaking proud of these girls.  Wishing I knew the song well enough so that I could sing along too.

So don’t be surprised Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.  Don’t be surprised if some random woman – old enough to be your your mom, or at least your aunt – stops you, holds you tight and whispers in your ears, “Thank you.  Thank you.  For standing up, for speaking out, for sharing love.”