I am from beanbag chairs, vinyl records, hanging bead curtains and black velvet wall pictures.
I am from the broken swing set, climbing trees, and playing hide and go seek in our overgrown backyard grass.
I am from the smell of my mom’s permanent, my grandmother’s hair setting lotion and big momma’s Afro Sheen spray. I am from generations of women with a love for hair styles.
I am from big family gatherings with more cousins than I can name, aunties and uncles with more alcohol than they can handle, big family arguments and always making up.
I am from “The Lord is my Shepherd”, “Don’t make me tell you twice”, “Get over it – life’s tough” and “you better be home before the street lights come on.”
I am from Maggie & Ray, Mary & Henry, homemade biscuits, collard greens and sweet potato pie.
I am from Doug & Charlotte, blastin’ disco, slammin’ dominos, sportin’ afros, and pretending to the world that everything is “cool”.
I am from family dysfunction, keeping secrets, putting up walls, and inner turmoil.
I am from personal journals, private tears, silent prayers and a spirit of resilience passed on from my African & Tsulagi ancestors.
Where I’m from has shaped who I am, but who I am is not determined by where I’m from.
I am a child of God and that alone defines me.