2nd great grandparents born into slavery |
I remember watching Roots as a
teenager when it aired in 1977. It was
hard watching the series, seeing the cruelty of an institution designed to
strip away the culture, dignity and identity of Africans for selfish gain. Knowing my ancestors were trapped in this
institution made it even more painful. I
vividly remember going to school each day angry with those who looked like the
people that enslaved my family.
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Image from original roots |
Like other historians, it peaked my
interest in wanting to understand where I came from. As a teenager, I would sit and ask my
grandmothers, parents and great aunts questions about the family.
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Great uncle's farm where I spent summers |
Going to town was a big deal just
to see something other than the farm.
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Houlka, Mississippi - Post Office |
As I got older my curiosity of
family intensified. I took a class in
college on African American studies.
Immersing into reading and writing papers on my culture, my anger toward
a system that trapped my family began to change. The anger was channeled to a different
purpose. The focus changed to
wanting to know even more about my family because the lives of those who came
before me mattered and share their stories.
Chosen
for such a time as this.
On a prayer call one evening years
ago I made my request known. When it was
my turn to state my request, I said, “I desire to know what I am called to
do”. The reply from one of the senior
members on the call, “Linda, your ministry is to your family”. Through my narrow
lens, I didn’t see the bigger picture.
As time passed, it became clearer.
Yes, I had a responsibility to my immediate family but it was also to
the extended family. You have to know
where you been to understand where you’re going.
We are an intricate and fleshly
fine-tuning of divine wisdom – Psalm 8:5.
Like the late Alex Haley, I too stand on the shoulders of giants. Our ancestors persevered so that we could be
here today to tell their stories, learn from it and share it with future generations.
With millions of viewers, I will be
tuned in to watch “Roots Reimagined” with my family, but this time with a fresh set of eyes and
head held high because I descended from
greatness. This time will be used as a teaching moment with my children so they will understand the importance of remembering their heritage.
Grandma Josephine - Freedmen Bureau Labor Contract |