THE MOTHERHOOD EXPERIENCE
I had both of my grandmothers in my life , three of my great grandmothers , and even a great great grandmother . I learned something different from each of them . My great great grandmother was only like two generations out of slavery and her opportunities had , of course , been very limited . She told me the importance of education and to take advantage of the opportunities that she had been denied . I didn ’ t really understand it because I was so young , but as I got older it stuck with me .
So , there was a lot riding on me to go to college . I had each of them tell me something they always wanted to do and I ’ ve tried to do those things to honor them while still living my own life . Like one grandmother always wanted to travel to places she read about . Growing up in the segregated South , she had fears of going certain places . But I didn ’ t , so I visited those places . I am a living testament to the dreams and desires of these wonderful women .
NaKecia Bowers
My grandmother would always talk in code . She would tell me things , but then say , “ When you get grown , you will understand .” She ’ d say things like , “ You don ’ t have to be like your father and mother ”, or “ everything good don ’ t mean it comes from God .” Now that statement really bothered me . But you know , she was right . Now that I am grown , I do understand . She ’ s been gone for 42 years , and I still miss her .
Sirrethea Mcintyre
There was so much I learned from my grandmother . She was my best friend . She taught me to cook , garden , to always be prepared , to keep moving and even if you get knocked down , get back up . She was the oldest of eight and I was her 7th grandchild — the oldest of her only daughter . She lost her mom to violence — one of her boarders had a psychotic break and murdered her .
My grandmother took in her two youngest siblings and raised them along with her own children . I learned perseverance from watching her deal with and overcome challenges . My grandmother was hilarious , but she took no sh * t from anyone . She passed that trait along to me . She sneezed , and also belched really loud . I always felt she was expelling some pain each and every time she did either one .
She loved the Lord and I know she prayed over and for me constantly . My grandmother was 5 feet 5 inches of pure power and I am who I am because she was here .
Tylonda L Sanders
16 | NKLC Magazine