Gossiping Griots: Sankofa Series
In West African culture, the griots of the family were the storytellers. They told the history, culture, and traditions of the tribes. The griot culture is still alive and well throughout the diaspora, and some have purer intentions than others. When formally documenting oral history, consider the source and be mindful of alternative facts. It’s always a personal decision to reshare what you have heard. The most compassionate approach is to be clear about your intention before resharing family drama and trauma. I’ve come across criminal records and children born out of wedlock. In researching both sides of my family, I’ve stumbled on fathers, grandpas, and uncles that have left their wives and children to start new families. Those aren’t my stories to tell. Use your discretion if the truth ties to one of your close relatives and lead with respect for the descendants closest in lineage to the ancestor.
Oral History
Your family history is #WorldStar worthy of recording. Hit the voice record or your camera phone at the next family gathering to document in real-time. Let your curiosity lead the way through each narrative and guide you through the gaps of what you already know. Use historical events to add context to your conversation if you get stuck. What were your ancestors doing during the Civil Rights Movement; how did they survive the Spanish Flu and World War II? How did they survive the Spanish flu? Start with your parents' and grandparents’ stories, then if you feel a close enough connection, capture stories of extended family that might have had a different relationship with your relatives. For example, my great-great-grandmother, Annie Curtis, still has living grandchildren. Grannie Annie’s grandchildren told me stories about her haute couture sewing skills and the soul food store Grannie Annie owned in Norfolk, Virginia. In documents, I discovered Grannie Annie was a dressmaker, but their memories added color and context.
Raymond Curtis, July 27, 1918
My great-great-grandmother, Annie (née: Drake) Curtis listed as a “dress maker” on her son’s birth certificate.
Time Capsule Talk
I love a good time capsule, so I keep more memories than I probably should. You never know what might be tucked into your attics, basements, crawl spaces, and Bible book bindings. You might be holding to some treasures too, in the form of:
Pictures
Videos
Voicemails
Text messages
Letters
Yearbooks
Scrapbooks
Newspaper clippings
Deeds
Draft cards,
Work IDs
Paystubs
Postcards
History books tell a hindsight version of historical happenings that have often been altered by the author. When you start to look at newspapers, letters, self-published books, and personal narratives of people that lived during those times, you get a whole different perspective and a bit closer to the truth. Can you think of any other archival keepsakes? Let me know in the comments below.
Symbolizes: Wisdom, Knowledge, Learning
An adinkra reminder to listen more than we speak. Asé.
