Click Start: Editor’s Preview
The feedback has been fresh and heartfelt. Thanks for sharing the love that means the world when it comes from family, whether by blood, water or ties-in-law. As you know from our debut issue, the blog/portal is made possible by four main families:
- Steele Family of Jamaican roots, now extends from New York to Florida to California.
- Salami family of Togo Africa roots is Maryland & West Virginia based.
- Jackson family having African American roots, is South Carolina & New Jersey based.
- Mitchell family having Guyanese roots, is Delaware & New York based.
As things grow, expect to see stories and upbeat tips that have been inspired by other families we call MVPs (Many Valuable Parents/Players) and VIPs (Very Important Peeps). These are folks who have a direct connection or indirect link to the main families. So, checkout two new features: ‘Life & Times Flava’ and ‘Did You Know?’. Also, shoutout to the Harper family in the Milestone Spotlight.
If you’d like to be among the families covered each month, then link-up by dropping your email below. Hope you’ll enjoy the stories and feel free to leave a comment using link in header. Thank You!
Lead Story: Babies Who Became Doctors
(Story production assistance: Nadine & Pat)
We’ve seen school yearbooks try to predict a student’s career track and what they’re gonna be. Those can be funny and spot on in some cases. Parents might even try to do the same thing with an infant child. Hoping and praying that they become doctor or lawyer or for some, professional athlete.
In our last issue you met Steele family member, our cousin Patricia who is an Educator and Entrepreneur. When she first opened her school in Brooklyn, one of the early staff members was our grandmother Mildred Steele-Wilson. Grandma Wilson ‘raised’ quite a few babies in her time (seen below with a great-grandson, many years ago).
(pic by Aunt Cynthia and Junior Wynter)
Well, fast forward a few decades and two of those babies have now become Doctors. It was a celebration when Jillian Ryan recently earned her Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) and Deborah Watson earned her Ph.D. a few years before. They know something about being ‘breakout students’ who began to see what was possible and went for it.
Our Aunt Sheila was a reminder that grandma’s birthday would have been July 11th. Plus, Pat knows how much grandma was a great cheerleader for her babies. As Trudy Parris, another early staff member said of Dr. Ryan, “Thirty years ago I presented her Kindergarten Diploma, and today I was honored to be there for her Doctorate in Higher Education Administration.”
(pic by Trudy Parris)
Did You Know? Family Archive Tidbits
(Story contributors: Carol & Aunt Cynthia)
Something we learned from the Salami family during our trip last year to Togo Africa, gives a new way for the generations to feel connected. They went back in their ancestry to a patriarch seen as an anchor point, which they call Generation Babana (GB). From there, each generation forward becomes GB1, GB2, GB3, etc. That was a major takeaway from our trip.
The concept makes sense and when applied in the Steele Family, takes us back to Mildred Steele-Wilson and her sister Lena, that we call Generation Steele (GS) based on their father’s name Alexander Steele. So, after the Steele sisters we have GS1, GS2, GS3, and so on. It made sense to many of us who’re GS2 fam members on both Mildred and Lena sides.
Adding to the fascination of family archive tidbits, cousin Carol (a GS2) who travelled with Grandma Mildred back in the day, remembers meeting grandma’s sister-in-law Isabel in Antigua. Isabel and her fam had left Jamaica for England in their early life but moved to Antigua in later years. We even think a generation or two after that, one of them became a flight attendant. Did you know Maxine?
Turn Up Tips: Notes on Trusting the Process
“Family history helps us with current times in how we see one another, love/care for one another and live our best life.”
“When we live life forward but understand it backward, we can find alignment with our assignment.”
Family Feature: Hot Crown Summer!
“Time for your 7-day forecast…just call it 3Hs – hazy hot and humid.” Sounds like your weather, right? We’re in the heart of what’s often called the “dog days of summer”. It’s where school’s out, cookout is in, and hot girl summer is a hit (not just with boyz in the ‘hood). Let your hair down girl!
Speaking of hair, the talk in culture and on the block is the growing move towards natural hair. Over the years women have been embracing the shift from perms to twists, and guys from fade to plaits/locs. It’s such a trend that barber shops and hair salons now have special stylists just for those natural looks.
But in some circles, it’s become a hassle where folks are told they ‘gotta cut it off’ or change their look in order to fit-in with the place. Some public officials took issue with that and hence the need for legislation called the ‘Crown Act’. It’s about protecting folks from bias and discrimination by respecting diversity in hairstyle choices. Learn more at http://www.TheCrownAct.com.
The Jackson family knows a little something about that as they represent, when it comes to the modern look. Plus, it’s not just about styling the hair on your head, it’s also the stuff inside your head. All these ladies (and our guy Walter) are doing-it-up in hair and hometown effect. Folks, it’s gonna be a ‘Hot Crown Summer’!
Milestone Spotlight: Let’s Go Clubbing!
What time is it? That’s the question we ask before hitting the town. Some might say they gotta take a nap before changing into that sleeveless top and legs-out bottom. Others might say, “Let’s go clubbing!” Well, what happens next depends on who you rollin’ with and where they wanna go. For some those words take on new meaning over the years.
If you’re in the 50+ marriage club like Junior and Gerry Price, those words might mean attending a show or just a quiet evening listening to some jazz or gospel. Since their golden wedding anniversary a few years ago in September, they’ve been married 50+ years and still feel like they’re young at heart. Then there’s Andrew and Mildred Harper-Wilson, married for 30+ years, celebrating recently in Antigua. After the trip Drew says he’s ready to step things up towards a family reunion next time. OKaaay…we see you, making it do what it do!
For those who might still have a little ‘clubbing’ left in dem legs whether in dating or marriage, gotta keep love alive. As the saying goes, “behind every strong man is a virtuous woman.” But at The Family Line, we like to say, “behind every strong man is a no-nonsense woman.” Happy Honey-boo-versary y’all!
Smile Emoji
Getting ready for next Olympics in Los Angeles? (courtesy of Coach-Q)
In Jamaica, hurricane or not, we jam and catch a flight! (sent by Donnice)
Life & Times Flava: “Chill Sauce for the Grind”
Where y’all headed this summer, somewhere with clear waters and blues skies? It might be a road trip, island destination, group convention or just laying low on a staycation. In the season of family reunions, maybe you’re trying to roll out some new ideas just to bring and keep the fam together. That’s cool, but if politics comes up, what’s gonna be the hot-button issue on folks’ minds?
While the upcoming presidential elections got us on edge, it’s a reminder that if a country (or family) becomes its own worst enemy it can end up in self-sabotage or even self-destruction. So, we gotta turn things around and ‘Turn. Up. Big.” by channeling our energies towards a new vibe, swag and bag. Maybe that’ll get us headed to clear waters and blue skies in America. Wheels up!
(For a deeper dive into the issues, visit http://www.SeeAmericaInColor.com).
Line Jams
Alicia Keys – Like Water – https://youtu.be/wSLtwTzlMGs?si=JmWSzg9fWWALx7fD
Emile Sandé – Brighter Days – https://youtu.be/XuiGHneBKuE?si=exn8fOqvdjkzROH_
‘The Family Line’ Motto: “Open Door to Good Cheer.”
The Family Line 