Slain For Equality

My great-grandmother Idella Walls was killed standing for what she believed in: independence and equality for women. This month, my mom has been feeling her loss as the tragedy shaped our family's existence. My grandmother, an 18-year-old soon-to-be high school graduate and oldest sister of 12 siblings, was suddenly thrown into a new position as a sister and parent. This situation helped shape my Grandma Gloria, the inspiration for Oria into the woman she was. She would end up migrating to California, where she met my grandfather shortly after.

While I typically don't publicly discuss politics, we must remember that many of the matters discussed are deeply personal, especially in communities like mine. I met my great-grandfather multiple times. He only passed a few years ago and I sat thinking yesterday of the people like my great-grandma who are not here today because their time was taken. Imagine the stories and experiences they would tell.

No matter where you are on the political spectrum or your perspective, many people are not with us today because of injustice and inequalities. Their absence is felt and has shaped the lives of many of us. While some don't understand the purpose of Black History month, for me it is a small step toward reconciliation and remembrance for a community that has endured deep wounds that still affect us today.

Stories like my family's are why representation and platforms like Oria matter. You don't know anything without stories, which connect and shape us all.