WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A Triad teenager is celebrating the important relationship between a mother and her son.

Ocir Black, 15, cherishes the words his mother and late grandmother shared with him and his twin brother. He decided to write a book detailing the challenges young Black men face growing up in America. It comes from the perspective of mothers writing open letters to their sons.

“This book is a groundwork or a foundation for people to build off upon or build their knowledge on for Black mothers raising Black sons in the world that doesn’t particularly like people of color, specifically African-American males,” Black says.

Eleven mothers shared their advice, dreams, and prayers for their children in “Love Letters to my Son.” Each mother tackled a different topic often discussed when coming of age.

Black approached his mother, JaMese, with the concept last spring at the start of the pandemic.

“Ocir is an old soul. For him to come with this concept, it wasn’t a surprise. “I was extremely excited about the idea of his book series,” JaMese says.

Black was inspired to write the book while thinking of his grandmother, who passed away years before. The death of George Floyd also inspired Black, after hearing him call out for his mother in his dying moments.

Black plans to release two more installments in the series. The next book will feature sons responding to their mothers’ letters.

“It was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears put into the book. The next one, I just want to take the bar even higher, to keep the same audience but also build upon it,” Black says.

To order “Love Letters to my Son”, click here.