Shout Out to the Universe — and You, Dear Reader!
You know that feeling when you’re following your heart and it’s leading you into the middle of nowhere-you’ve-ever-been-before? And of course you’re scared because you don’t know where this path will lead but you keep going anyway because you know it’s the right path?
So, you hitch up your big girl panties and step out into the void, and — whaddya know? — a bridge rises up to meet your foot! Not the whole bridge — just the next little stretch. And you take a couple steps . . . and then a couple more . . . and even though you still have no idea where you’re going, that bridge keeps rising?
That’s how RELATIONS, my project to research and write the stories of people my ancestors enslaved, has felt from the start. And that’s how it still feels. But with each step into unknown and potentially fraught territory (I’ve already been threatened with one law suit over a blog post), I’ve felt supported by the universe and by the Medium community. Thank you!
Special thanks and a SHOUT OUT to Jacqueline Jannotta, who I met after reading stories about her colorful Italian family. Jacqueline recently introduced me to genealogist Heather Murphy, whose “Stories in Our Roots” podcast explores how knowing our ancestors’ stories can make a difference in our lives today. As a result of Jacqueline’s introduction, I had the honor of being a guest on “Stories in Our Roots,” where Heather and I talked about
- Coming out of denial to confront the legacy of enslaver ancestors.
- Revealing the previously untold stories of enslaved people and honoring their lives.
You can listen to the podcast episode here.
Thank you so much for your support in a world that is not always friendly to people who tell the truth about white supremacy and our shared history as Americans.
