Dear Mom,
親愛的媽咪，
The big question appalled and surprised parents often ask their child after a confrontational or revelatory moment is, "Where did you get this attitude from?" I know you hate to admit it, but I get much of my determined and strong-willed nature from you.
經(jīng)過一陣對(duì)抗和宣泄之后，震驚的父母通常會(huì)問：“你的這種態(tài)度是哪里來的?”我知道你不樂意承認(rèn)這些，但我這堅(jiān)持不懈的性格，大多都是從你那里學(xué)來的。
Mom, I know it’s hard dealing with the teenage angst and the ever-changing moods that come with raising a child. But you should also marvel at the fact that I’ve made it this far, that I’m healthy and happy.
媽媽，我知道對(duì)為青春期的孩子擔(dān)憂的感受不好受，也知道你的心情因?yàn)轲B(yǎng)育孩子而跌宕起伏。但你也應(yīng)該驚嘆于我已經(jīng)成長(zhǎng)到了這一步，而我現(xiàn)在健康又快樂。
When I was small, I would attend barbecues and family events and wander away from my parents. It wouldn’t be long before someone would stop me to ask whether I was my mother’s daughter.
小時(shí)候，我會(huì)在燒烤派對(duì)和家庭活動(dòng)中離開父母自己到處跑。不久，總會(huì)有人攔住我問我是不是我母親的女兒。
"Your mom is Melissa," they’d say, a warm smile on their faces. "Is that right?" I would nod, I assume, parents feel when their child talks back or defies them, I was appalled at this statement. To me, I acted nothing like you, Mom.
“你媽媽是梅麗莎，”他們會(huì)帶著溫暖的微笑問，“對(duì)吧?”我會(huì)點(diǎn)頭，我想，當(dāng)孩子頂撞父母的時(shí)候，父母在感情上肯定很受傷吧，我當(dāng)時(shí)被這個(gè)想法震驚到了。在我看來，我和你一點(diǎn)都不像啊，媽媽。
No one says, "I know you’re Melissa’s daughter because of your eyes and nose" it’s the character traits that seal the deal. Dry wit, intelligence, and yes, maybe a little bit of attitude—these are the things I am grateful I have received from you. There’s nothing wrong with having attitude.
沒有人會(huì)說：“我知道你是梅利莎的女兒，是因?yàn)槟愕难劬�和鼻子和你媽媽很�?rdquo;其實(shí)，性格特點(diǎn)的相似才是背后的原因。我很高興我從你那遺傳了我的機(jī)智、聰明，可能還有一點(diǎn)倔勁兒。這樣的性格沒有什么不對(duì)的。
Like for most black individuals, attitude is what defines you and me, and it’s what keeps us from being mentally oppressed and defeated. Attitude is a non-violent form of protection and confrontation -- where would we be in the world without this tool? Surely not where we are.
像對(duì)大多數(shù)黑人一樣，這倔勁兒是我們的標(biāo)志，它使我們免于在精神上受到壓迫和擊敗。態(tài)度是一種非暴力的自保與對(duì)抗，如果沒有這個(gè)工具，我們的生活將是怎樣?肯定沒有現(xiàn)在這么好。
Mom, when people ask me where I get my attitude from, I tell them: you. And when they ask me where I got my drive, my work ethic, my good hair, and my sense of humor, I say you as well. I will always say this.
媽媽，當(dāng)人們問我這倔勁兒是從哪來的，我會(huì)告訴他們，是從你那來的。當(dāng)他們問我在哪里獲得動(dòng)力、職業(yè)道德、我的好發(fā)質(zhì)和幽默感，我也會(huì)說是你。我會(huì)永遠(yuǎn)這樣說。
When I’m asked why I am the way I am -- why I refuse to allow others to hurt me with their words or actions, why I think and speak about things openly and without fear—I’ll tell them it's because of you.
當(dāng)別人問起我為什么會(huì)這樣處事——我為什么不許別人用言語或者言行傷害我，為什么我可以毫無恐懼的坦然的說出我所想的事——我會(huì)告訴他們，是因?yàn)槟恪?br /> I’ll complain to you about the arguments between us that leave me wondering about how God made us so much alike that we hardly even noticed.
我要跟你談?wù)勎覀兊哪切�沖突，它們讓我很好奇上帝是如何使我們?nèi)绱讼嘞瘢�以至于我們幾乎沒有注意到。
But I’ll tell them about you.
但我會(huì)跟別人說，我的優(yōu)點(diǎn)都來自你。
Love,
愛你的
Malahni
馬拉尼