Seeing the exhibits and watching the videos nearly brought me to tears. Also knowing inside that not very much has changed in this country for Black Americans yet we persevere.
Tarabu Betserai Kirkland at home in Los Angeles with his mother, Mamie Lang Kirkland, 109, who fled Mississippi at age seven. 2017. (Photo: Kris Graves for the Equal Justice Initiative)
My Grandfather William Junius Palmer with some of his children at Mt. Morris Park aka Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. Photo taken in the 1920s. My Grandfather left Virginia as a young man. He was part of what is known as The Great Migration. Lynchings were the major catalyst to caused Black Americans to be refugees in their own country. My Dad told me that my Grandfather never discussed his youth or his past.
My Grandfather’s Silence speaks volumes to me over the years.
If you want to share a literal image of the actual word, do that. But if you’d rather play with word association, post something that reminds you of the specific word, or something you use the word for, do so. It only has to make sense to you. Have fun and keep on photographing!
This week’s word is Family!
My Family Past and Present from the 19th Century to the 21st Century!
Grandfather William Palmer with 4 of his children 1923
My Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer
My Dad Edward Gordon Palmer
My Aunt Thelma Palmer Varner
Montreal 1970
Me and Dad
2002 MMC Graduate
Family Photo Collage
Family Photo Collage
Mom & Dad
My Dad Edward G. Palmer
My Dad Edward G. Palmer
Aunt Carrie ~~ George Gordon’s Sister
Fredrick H. Halstead_Sept. 6, 1898_Little’s Brother
This is Well Worth a ReBlog for Black History Month Feb. 2017!! Celebrating the Women Warriors of the Civil Rights Movement!! Long Live the Revolution!!
Fannie Lou Hamer ~~ One of the Queen Mothers of The Civil Rights Movement
I know that this weekend Americans are celebrating the Birthday and Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. but I want to focus on the Mothers of the Civil Rights Movement in America. Many Americans have no idea about these great African American Women who risked life and limb for the freedoms we now all enjoy and some take for granted. They endured jail under harsh conditions and were often beaten within an inch of their lives just because they wanted to register to have the Right to Vote! Seems shocking but in terms of American History these protests, marches and speeches took place a scant 50 or 60 years ago. As I have heard some of the elders say, We Stand on the Shoulders of Giants. Fannie Lou Hamer is one of those Giants.
“God will not have his work be manifest by cowards,”- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fannie Lou Hamer – “I Don’t Mind My Light Shining”
Fannie Lou Hamer – “We’re On Our Way”
Fannie Lou Hamer – “Until I am Free You are Not Free Either”
Fannie Lou Hamer : At the 1964 Democratic National Committee
As most of my readers know by now I’m not a woman who holds her tongue. I’m bold, brash, outspoken and unafraid. I call things as I see them. A Revolutionary, Activist and Outcast all wrapped into One! I’m beholden to no man save the Lord God. Real Life. Real Talk. Grown Folks speech. Where do I get my Fierceness from?
I have neither chick nor child. Thelma Palmer Varner
I’m Free, Black & 21. Edward G. Palmer
Deborah all you need to do in this life is Stay Black, pay taxes and die. Edward G. Palmer
I also remember all the stories from my mother Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Grandmother Hattie Finney Banks, Maternal Aunts Helen James and Gladys Young; Paternal Aunts Helen Palmer Garcia and Thelma Palmer Varner of what it was like to be Black during the early part of the 20th Century. Jim Crow at it’s worst. Now there is a resurgence of hatred against People of Color and those who follow faiths outside Christianity. Yes History does repeat itself. The Tea Party, Christian Identity Movement, American Nazi Party, Klu Klux Klan, Fox News are all wearing the same White hoods under their three piece designer suits.
Back in 2014 when I turned 55 I entered the Council of Elders. I take my position and responsibilities seriously. I cannot and will not stand idly by while people are persecuted, harassed and bullied simply for the color of their skin. I believe everything happens for a reason. God, the Universe, Lord, Jehovah or Creator places us in certain situations to see what we will do, how we will react and will we really Live our Christianity or whatever faith you follow. As the Bible says, Faith without works is dead.
So as the expression goes if you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen! Okay So you know what’s coming next!! Get Ready!!
F.E.A.R ~~ False Evidence Appearing Real
We hide behind that Wall of Silence thinking if I’m just quiet enough I can slip under the radar. They won’t see me. I can hide and everything will be alright not knowing or not caring that Silence = Death.
We’ve become a society of trained apathetic circus clowns who when the powers that be say jump we ask how high. If we shuck and jive continually bowing down to the institution plantation head clowns. If we kiss their ass long enough perhaps we will be permitted the privilege of being allowed to slave another day.
Reduced to a mass of sniveling groveling cowards we’ve sold our birthrights for the few crumbs that drop from the Overseers table. We rant and rave against Trayvon Martin, Ferguson, Staten Island and other atrocities but back away from the injustice in our own backyards. Completely ignoring all the weapons within reach, easily at our disposal. All we have to do is pick them up use them but instead we say it’s not happening to me so I’m safe. Safe for how long? Who guarantees that you’ll magically be released at the age of 62 or now 66? There are no outside saviors. It’s you that will make a difference. Do you really think that by ignoring the cries of others that evil, harm, & wickedness won’t come your way? You’re living in a glass bubble. And why post scriptures of peace, love and redemption without acknowledging that even Jesus got angry and threw the money-changers out of the Temple. But No we mix idly among thieves, robbers, rapists, stalkers tethered to electronic mind numbing devices entranced by technological marvels ignoring the mud and filth accumulating on our clothes while building empires in the sand. Yes the brainwashing has been completed successfully and the new slave masters smile from on high.
My Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer
My Grandfather William J. Palmer with some of his children in Mt. Morris aka Marcus Garvey Park
These are some some Old Tyme Family Photos mostly from my Dad’s side of the family some of which date back to just after the Civil War. The photos cover both the 19th and 20th Centuries.
This is a Tin Type photo of an unknown unnamed Ancestor
Grandfather William Palmer with 4 of his children 1923
My Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer
My Dad Edward Gordon Palmer
My Aunt Thelma Palmer Varner
Rosalie Palmer My Grandfather’s Sister
Aunt Carrie ~~ George Gordon’s Sister
My Dad Edward G. Palmer
My Dad Edward G. Palmer
Fredrick H. Halstead_Sept. 6, 1898_Little’s Brother
My Maternal Grandmother Hattie Finney Banks
My Maternal Aunt Helen James
Henry Keyser
Mom Mable Palmer
Mom & Dad
Shout Out to fellow Photography Blogger Cee Neuner!!
With your answers, please remember we are in the SYW world which may not always match our reality.
List 2 things you have to be happy about?
My brother Stephen
My Cat Sylvester
A measure of health and strength
My Blogging Family
As always I get carried away and can’t just list two!!
If you could take a photograph, paint a picture or write a story of any place in the world, what and where would it be?
Hawaii. It’s a place that I’ve yet to visit and is on my list of places to Travel when Retired.
Should children be seen and not heard?
Sounds like what my Dad used to say when we were kids, “That children should be seen and not heard!” Ha! Ha! LOL!! Well that did not work as I was always bugging him. I think he used to say that as a joke. Daddy would come home from work and even though he was tired he would get down on the floor and play with us if we were awake and he always took us places on the weekends to give my Mom a break.
I never had children but when my young cousins were little kids I took them many places and enjoyed their company. Child care can be challenging but I enjoyed babysitting them. I encouraged them to speak up to talk with me. In my opinion communication with kids is vital. Even if you disagree with the child or they say something completely off well that gives the adult the opportunity to explain to them about plants, animals, people and life in general. Always listen to children. They have wonderful unfettered imaginations!
List at least five of your favorite first names.
DeBorah
Stephen
Edward
Mable
Thelma
Helen
William
Eva
Gladys
Clarence
Hattie
Veronica
Yup!! These are all Family Names!! I know this list is more than five but once you get started!!
Family Photo Collage
Rufus & Chaka Khan – Once You Get Started
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Health
Well-being
A nice clean safe place to Love. I Love Brooklyn!!
My Cat Sylvester.
Wonderful co-workers with whom I laugh and joke with about the nuttiness on our job.
Tarabu Betserai Kirkland at home in Los Angeles with his mother, Mamie Lang Kirkland, 109, who fled Mississippi at age seven. 2017. (Photo: Kris Graves for the Equal Justice Initiative)
Dindga McCannon (American, born 1947). Revolutionary Sister, 1971. Mixed media construction on wood
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 