On an overwhelming basis during Black History month we pay deserving tribute to numerous deceased men and women. However, it is my concern that we fail to exert enough focus on the major factor on what would have happened in the majority of our lives without momma and daddy? The almost unbelievable guidance and sacrifice of Black parents throughout history is unparalleled.
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Allow me to list two of the most prominent: Mary, the mother of Jesus and a man born in Kenya, father of the most powerful man in the free world, President Baraka Obama.
Let us reminisce about those in our families, our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles and when everybody were cousins, do you remember?
In our church, Mr. Conners and Mr. Supples were union carpenters and they would attempt to encourage the males to learn a trade. Daddies had to control their actions and words oft times to keep working on a job where they generally were underpaid, because they had a responsibility to the family. Momma had to be a financial genius to manage the limited resources that daddy frequently bought home, in conjunction with being a seamstress, cook and laundress. And remember there were a number of families that consisted of upwards of eight children. Mommas also raised their families and went to work generally as domestics. Yes Black women are classified as super women.
It is alarming how many young persons today are engaged in activities that result in a fatality and have no insurance. In our generation parents, who generally had virtually no formal education, had insurance policies with North Carolina Mutual.
I can recollect going to church on Sunday—it was required in our home, everybody attended Sunday School, church and any other activities. There were many positive messages imparted to us, and some of the most memorable were “I can do anything, but fail. I know who I am and whose I am. All things being equal you can accomplish all things,” and responsibility to self and family.
An overwhelming number of our parents had a very limited education, but they understood very clearly the importance of education and how significant it was if their children were going to be in positions of helping themselves and others to move on up.
I was born and raised on a dirt street named Jones Avenue and I can recall how few families were single parent homes. Most importantly I can recall that the men on the street to a degree that you don’t see today were participants in every family. No one on the street, White or Black, ever went hungry, was without coal or clothes. In fact I never heard the word poor until I was a young adult, because none of us saw ourselves as being poor. My brothers and I were required to shovel snow in front of widow’s homes, run errands, shovel coal down the coal chute and the majority of times were not allowed to accept payment.
If the truth is told there should be 12 months thanking Momma and Daddy for a job well done, because they are the real inspirational lights in our lives.
Do you recall that long before there were Day Care Centers, the neighbors were the Day Care Centers? I remember well. There was Mrs. Finney on one side and Mrs. Thompson on the other, respect and discipline were automatic.
Remember Kingsley Association needs your help.
(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor to the Forum page.)
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