heritage
If you don’t recount your family history, it will be lost. Honor your own stories and tell them too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are. – Madeleine L’Engle

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.