What Happens at a Black Family Reunion
Ain’t Nothing like Family
A gathering around love, family, legacy, and tradition.
“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.”
Last month, my aunt organized an impromptu family gathering in Tennessee. This reunion included the descendants of my great grandparent’s 11 children, their children, and grandchildren. We haven’t gathered in years, so we expected a lot of family to show up. I led the weekly Zoom calls leading up to the day designating responsibilities of cooking, decorating, games, etc. Those weeks quickly passed and the day finally came for all of us to reunite.
I walked into a venue sitting in the middle of the country with the smell of fried catfish, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, green beans, baked beans, red sausages, and potato salad. In the kitchen was a spread of desserts including everything from strawberry cakes, cookies, and sweet potato pies. I could tell that everyone was excited to be there and to fellowship over all the food!
In walked cousin Murray with a vintage leather suitcase, speakers, and his equipment ready to DJ. Slowly but surely, family began to arrive taking photos on the fall colored backdrop on their way inside.
I met family and enough heard stories to make my heart explode with gratitude. I can’t fully put into words how inspired I am to continue the work of Genealogy, but the art and designs that will follow will hopefully capsulate my exact sentiments. For me, meeting family is like putting little puzzle pieces of yourself together.
Enjoy the photos and the video below from the Allen, Key, Keys fall family reunion. There’s a lot more to come.
“No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place.”
