Most of us know our immediate background, our parent’s background, and for some of us, the background of our grandparents — where they were born, where they traveled, what their jobs were and maybe a handful of personal stories. But what about our heritage beyond those generations? From who and where did we actually come?
“Go back to where you started, or as far back as you can,
James Baldwin
examine all of it, travel your road again and tell the truth about it.
Sing or shout or testify or keep it to yourself: but know whence you came.”
Many of us have no clue, especially if we’re descended from African peoples who were enslaved for hundreds of years or have ancestors who were raised outside of their biological homes. Some people may be too focused on the now to glance back at the past, but understanding your lineage can help open up greater discernment for the present and future.
These stories of your family are worth the time and investigation — the payoff? A tangible link to your heritage, your past. Some day, our own lives will be someone else’s stories, and the best we can hope for is that those stories will be discovered and shared.
