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In the Beginning
I was born into a middle class family. My parents were African American and the first generation to attend college. I was one of the lucky ones. I was the eldest child of two and expected to follow in my parent's footsteps. My parents were conservative and instilled in me strict work ethics. (The photo is a relative.) -
1st Day of School
My formal education began at the age of five. I entered kindergarten with clear expectations and guidelines. Education was valued in our home. It wasn't enough to attend school but to excel. My parents believed that a great education and hard work were keys to success. Since my parents were raised during the Civil Rights era I was reminded that people fought and died for my rights. (A photo of a relative at graduation) -
Moving On Up
Life was changing for our family. It was a wonderful time. My father had earned a promotion at his job. The African American culture has traditionally been a very conservative culture. Families are expected to have two parents in the home, attend church weekly and raise children to become productive citizens. My family managed to stay within these cultural guidelines. (My father is pictured in the photo.) -
A New Neighborhood Rich with Culture
My father's promotion afforded us additional income. My parents decided to buy a new home in a more affluent area of town. We moved into a diverse neighborhood consisting of people of Polish, Irish and German descent. It was at this time when I embraced my culture as well as learned about new cultures. I realized that overall our cultural foundations were similar. For example, a strong family unit was a common thread throughout many cultures. (The picture is our home.) -
New Religion
Life continued to change for our family. My parents enrolled me into the local Catholic elementary school. This was my first experience in the Catholic church. My family grew up in the Methodist church. The Catholic and Methodist churches had several similarities. Baptism and confirmation were similar rites of passage. I thrived in my new environment and graduated four years later. (The photo is a picture of my classmates) -
A Culture Within a Culture
Finally, I entered the local public high school. To my surprise, I was considered an outsider. Our neighborhood had been bused to a low socioeconomic school. Although, there were a greater percentage of African American students at this school, I was considered an outcast. I shared some of the same cultural traditions with many of the African American students but my socioeconomic status placed me in a different category. High school was a lonely place. (This is a picture of me.) -
College, Freedom, & Reality
Following four long years of high school, I graduated and entered college. College proved to be a wonderful new world for me. I met a diverse group of students from all over the country and began to embrace my new found freedom. Freedom does come at a cost. I was reminded of our family values and expectations. Failure was not an option.. (A photo of friends.) -
Meeting My Soulmate
I completed college in four years and decided to move to Texas. My goal was to move to Dallas and enjoy being single. These intentions were short lived. My family's traditional values began to surface. I was expected to meet a nice man and settle down. The second day that I was in Texas, I met my soulmate. It was love at first sight. (A photo of me and my soulmate.) -
Marriage
Less than two years later, I married my husband. This was a momentous occasion. I was the first child to marry within the family. Marriage was deemed a sacred event and a lifetime commitment. (A photo of the wedding venue) -
The Circle of Life
I can still remember the doctor placing my daughter in my arms. It was my responsibility to take care of this little being. It was at this moment when I realized that our culture, values and traditions were important and would need to be preserved and handed down to the next generation. (A picture of the baby.)
