I Am Because We Are

When we first started planning our trip, I was on the fence about going to Charleston aka the Holy City. I knew it would be beautiful, but I was keenly aware of its dark history. Charleston was the nation’s capital of slavery--- many of the first enslaved people’s first steps on North American soil was on Sullivan’s Island---the black Ellis island. It’s place in American history is solidified as the main conduit of American slavery. Honestly, I wanted a stress- free vacation, I didn’t want to return home more heavy than I left. I wanted to come back refreshed and I felt that Charleston would do the opposite. 

 Surprisingly, as we drove into North Charleston, I immediately felt an atmosphere shift, It was airy-- almost tropical, and in the air I felt the calmness that comes with being outside of a big city. I immediately wanted to explore. Drew and I resolved that we would spend our trip supporting black businesses, learning about the Gullah people, and enjoying time with each other. 

 The day after we arrived, we went on a Gullah tour facilitated and owned by Mr. Alphonso Brown. This tour was everything and more. He drove us around Downtown Charleston and explained in detail the history of the city as well as the Gullah people who helped to make the city great. We learned about Phillip Simmons who was a nationally renowned blacksmith and artist  that created over 500 gates that adorn the city. The details in his gates are unbelievable and often alludes to his strong admiration of God. Phillip Simmons used his craft as a way to worship God and also to uplift his people. Throughout his life, Simmons appeared at the Smithsonian Institution’s American Folklife Festival, received the National Heritage Fellowships and a lifetime achievement award from the South Carolina State Legislature, had lunch at the White House with Ronald Reagan, and was honored countless times. Despite all of the accolades he received, Simmons never lost sight of who he was. He continued living in his house in Downtown Charleston. Mr. Alphonso Brown explained that Mr. Simmons was a very humble man, who spent most of his money on sending his children and grandchildren to college, sending neighborhood children to school and donating to his church. Mr. Simmons said that he was rich because he had people that loved and visited him. He was more concerned with loving his community than in the material wealth that came as a result of his talent. 

A Phillip Simmons gate

 While on the Gullah tour we also learned about Richard E. De Reef. DeReef was one of the richest black men in Charleston during the 1800s. He owned several rental properties and owned a lumber factory. Mr. Alphonso Brown also taught us about the city’s dark past. He made sure to discuss Charleston’s history from the perspective of the Gullah people, which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

 Next, we visited the Mcleod Plantation. To me, Plantations are sacred places—places where my people suffered, persevered, found and maintained joy, but also sacrificed their lives so that we could be free. Plantations also highlighted the necessity of community and togetherness--- they taught us that we are kin even if we are not blood related. As expected, the Mcleod plantation was humbling. I was filled with gratitude that I had the privilege of paying respects to my ancestors by walking the grounds that they walked, as a free woman. As a black woman that was  free to love my black man. As a black woman without the fear of having to share her body with a white slave owner. With the freedom of knowing that our future children will be ours to raise, that they will have a future outside of bondage. I thought about the sacrifices that they made. Their resilience--- their silent  protests by maintaining lives outside of their circumstances, their protests of worshipping God—of finding reasons to live--- of finding joy in what appeared as a hopeless situation. 

 After the tours, we enjoyed ourselves by eating, exploring and loving on each other. That in itself paid homage to our ancestors as we reclaimed the land that they prayed to walk in freedom. This trip sparked something in me. It opened my eyes to the need of our people to get back to the basics. To get back to the fundamental values that allowed us to survive the worst time in our collective history. It reminded me of the truth that we are better together. That just like we survived TOGETHER, suffered TOGETHER, found joy TOGETHER---we can also heal and thrive TOGETHER. 

Black Love

I am in amazement of my people. I love everything about being black. I love our culture, I love our joy, I love our resilience, I love our beauty, I love our ingenuity, I love our endurance, I just love it all! Our society focuses so much on the individual that we lose sight of the power of the collective. Our ancestors knew that they weren’t striving to stay alive and overcome for them alone. They understood that they had future sons and daughters that would stand on their shoulders to flourish in a foreign land. We cannot lose sight of the power of the collective. I am, because we are. There is no me, without them. I am a black woman—resilient, joyous, innovative, persistent. I am a black woman, the embodiment of love. 

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble- 1 Peter 3:8