I've been called Brown, Colored, Nigger, Black, Bronze, African-American and then by my name. Like alot of kids, with the same skin color-some lighter, some darker--we've all been told we could be anything we set our mind to.
My heart was set on being a ballerina. Wanted to dance on my toes. I was about 9 or 10, when my mom burst the Anything Bubble. She informed since I wasn't built the 'right way' I couldn't be a ballerina. So my dance teacher put me in a hula skirt because I looked 'authentic.' Granted, it could have been my knees or ankles, or maybe I wasn't built like a white girl. I don't know. I never asked about it again, even when I got older. My heart was broken. So much for being able to do anything. I still believed, but not as much.
Then comes today. A day of History. I think of my ancestors, who were slaves in Virginia, during the building of the White House. Maybe their sweat and grit built that mansion. Did they wonder if they would ever be able to do anything else? Would they always be slaves to another man? Dare not to hope, to dream, or to feel? I think of what my family and others endured to get to this moment.
As a kid I worried about only to dance on my toes. My ancestors walked to do what had to be done just to survive. Did they think as presidents moved into the White House and brought their slaves with them, would ever be a day like this? A man who shared the same skin color, yet not owned by another man, to lead a free country of every man. Did they?
Listen close. Hear their voices? The winds of time have not silenced them. The voices of our past. Those voices whisper hope, faith--they nod, because they believed this day would come.
History.
I am a woman who has been called Brown, Colored, Nigger, Black, Bronze, African-American and then by my name. Just call me an American.
History. Today. How can one not look at today and not believe they CAN be anything they set their mind too? I may not dance on my toes, yet I will dance.
God Bless the United States of American and President Barack Obama.
Rain here in Dallas. A tornado watch too....yep, in November.
Nonetheless, I smile because a distant cousin I found in Ohio, e-mailed today. He and his wife traveled to Loudon County, Virginia where our ancestors had been slaves. Turns out he located our ancesteral cemetary. How cool is that? Our family settled in Ohio, I think after the Civil War or during. Just try to piece that all together. I usually don't like puzzles, yet this one I enjoy putting together.
Warren dazzled me tonight, on Dancing With the Stars. He trips that light fantastic pretty well! Loved it!
Ate cucumber sandwiches yesterday at a baby shower. I'm not much on cucumber, however the event was a delightful time had by all. One of my co-workers mentioned to me today, she loves cucumber, but would need 42 of the sandwiches to get full. What was cool about yesterday is the age range. Ladies aged around 75 years young down to the mommy to be who was early 20's. Lively chat, which included talking about favorite I Love Lucy and Andy Griffith shows! Talk about something that keeps during the test of time!
Just happy one work day is done. Just happy period. Just need to get real happy to steam clean my carpet. Hmm. That can wait. Gotta curl in bed an rejoice to the rhythm of the falling rain and think of my family I never knew and realize they've been with me all the time.
History. My great great grandparents: Enos, born 1814 and Louisa, born 1825. Slaves in Virginia. Not that far from Washington DC. Their son, Elias also my great grandfather, and his son, Andrew, my grandfather, both lived in Washington DC for a time. Did they wonder if justice and equal for all would ever touch them? Did they wonder how life would be better for their future family? Did they wonder if they would ever cast votes? Let their voices be heard? Respected as men and woman--and not less than live stock? Did they wonder if someone Black would walk the hallways of the White House that was not a servant? For that person to hold highest position in the land, with the world as its audience? I'm sure they did. Optimism runs in my family. History. It's still being made.
