Re: Who Do You Say You Are??
Phoebe (sis) I LOVE this! You indeed did your homework. Like you said not many people know where to start. I was one of those person. Girl I had no idea a person could research their roots. Seriously. I was to afraid to ask. You however, took it to all levels. The closet thing I remember in "trying" to search my roots was just coming into college from the big ten and being GREEN. Knowing absolutely nothing! One day I set in my literature class and this young black professor (a sistah) asked the class, about certain aspect of our roots, and none of the 3 black people in the class knew including myself how to answer her. Each time she asked the question this one white chic would raise her hand, and would get deep into the black history. Each time the professor asked questions, she would look at the black students, and try to ignore the white chic. When we didn't answer, she would asked her to answer. Talk about humiliation. This white chic knew every single question, and me, all I could do was put my head down, draw a circle on the floor, and pray she did not call my name. Wait, but dig it. she didn't call on us but she did go off. This sistah was pissed. She stop lecturing, thumped her cigarette on the floor, turn to the white chic, and told her to put her hand down, and turned to the three blacks in her class and gave us a piece of her mind. It was brutal. I felt awful. Getting to the point you made, I did not know where to look. Remember at that time UCSD was know to be a racist school, and I knew there was nothing in the library relating to "US". Long story short, when it was time to leave her class as we began walking out, she turned to us all and said "ya'll better get it," and when you finish your degree from here and become financial able, and I'm paraphrasing, she said to us....."you better take your asses back home" (the ghetto) and give back." That hunted me for a long time. So at the next class, I ask the white chick, how is it she know so much about black history and she responded by saying with her grin that black history was her major. I'm like no wonder. I thought she had a black boyfriend that was schooler her because I definitely wanted to know. It was on the contrary. Chic was ALL white. White boyfriends, white friends, white everything. She stayed in the same apartment/dorms I stayed. In short, I didn't know where and how, and I sure was not asking the white chic how to find my way. I was not giving her that. I just kept pretending that I knew. Now, with Mary asking the question and you describing your quest, I think it's time I get it. It is embarrassing, at best. I have to know now. Do my do diligence, if you will. at less for my children and their offsprings, Love you guys much and more. Thank you Mary for heading a very good discussion, and Phoebe for a intriguing experience. Jerlilia Sent from my iPad of Jerlilia L Ryan
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