I remember it like it was yesterday. My mother told me never let anyone tell you that you do not have a seat at the table. Just make sure the seat is worth it. Never go against your values just to sit in that chair.
She taught me that most tables are never what they seem. That it is better to build your own and always leave room for others, even for the ones who once told you there was no place for you.
That lesson came on the very day we were turned away from a family reunion. We were told we were not in the right spot. We were just kids who loved the outdoors, with skin a little darker than most of the people around us, so we must have been in the wrong place. My dad had to clear things up. I saw my mother hold her head up high and walk into a room where we were not necessarily welcomed but she did it and carried a smile while doing it.
I often say I have a splash of culture, but the truth is I would not be here without that splash. I am the great granddaughter of a woman who sacrificed everything for the American Dream. She crossed into this country hoping for a better life. Every day I try to live in a way that honors her sacrifice, making sure it never goes in vain. I saw my mother do the same.
Over the years, I lost sight of how important it is to be proud of my family’s heritage and the challenges they faced to get here. This post is not for everyone, and I know that. This is what has shaped me into the woman I am today.
This story is mine. It lives on a domain I own, on a website I created, because this is my table and these are my values. I am not ashamed of who I am or of what we are building. The foundation I stand on was laid by the women who came before me, the women who pushed me forward even when the world at times tried to push them out.
Moral of the Story. I am the great granddaughter of a strong woman who wanted more for her family. My contribution to this world will be measured by the tables I build and the chairs I pull out for others to sit in at those very tables. It will never be measured by shares or likes on a post rooted in hate.
❤️✌🏼
Jamie
Moral Of The Story 