Trey, a young African American single father stands before the judge and a packed courtroom holding his newborn son in his hands. The love this has for this child is clear from the opening moment. He is in court today to fight for custody of his son. The mother died in childbirth, but the court is questioning Trey’s ability to care for his son as a single father. Trey stands in front of the court making sure to note that his lawyer wanted to prepare him for this speech, but he wanted to speak from his heart. He tells the story of his childhood where his mother and himself were abused by his father. He thought this was how all fathers were until he told his friends and realized that it was just him. Though he never understood why his father was the way he was Trey turned his focus as a kid on making his mom happy. One day he came home from school and his father had packed up and left but not before a violent attack on his mother. Telling the judge that is this moment he knew he would never be that kind of son, father, or man to anyone in his life. For many years his father stayed away, almost to a point of forgetting about him, but on his graduation day his father shows up, and it is in this moment that Trey is able to say and do all of the things that he always wanted to say and do. After a very honest and emotional conversation Trey accepts that he is the man he knew he would become. Will the court allow him to take his son home, or will the sins of his father stop him from being the father he is destined to be?
Not My Father's Son
Beautiful, isn’t he? (Smiles) I’ve always seen people talk about how beautiful their children are, they are the most beautiful and they are the most precious children that they have ever seen. I’m not gonna lie I always thought those people were crazy. (Laughs) Real talk, how can you think that your child is more beautiful than the next person who thinks the same thing about their child? (Looking down) But holding him in my arms for the first time, after everything we’ve been through, I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt my son, this little boy right here is the most handsome black jewel that has ever been born into this world. My son. My breath. (He passes him off to someone and turns to the audience.) Judge, I will do whatever it takes to not only keep him safe but to raise him in a house where he knows that every single day he wakes up he is surrounded by people who love him… and that love starts with me. I understand that, yes sir. I understand more than most how love truly should manifest itself at home first. I promise you you’re honor if given the opportunity I will be the best father possible. I will be his friend and his mentor. I will be everything… (Beat, he takes a breath) everything I never had.