My Grandma Wasn’t Empowered but We Are

My grandma, Ruth James was a farm hand’s wife. She gave what little she had to family, neighbors and even the white family she worked for. That was her world. That was her reality.

She worked hard and made sure no one left from her hungry or in need of clothing. This is documented in the book Backward Glances by Margaret Poole Downing. She cleaned white people’s houses and took care of their children from can’t see to can’t see because she had to. At the end of the night, she walked to their humble little home, only to go back to work when they got home for her own husband and children.

My grandparents home on the OUTSIDE OF THE LAND that they worked on.

My grandma was not empowered. They were immune to the Civil Rights Movement. In the rural area she lived in, blacks were severely disenfranchised. They did the best they could with what they had.

That’s not my reality nor the reality of my two daughters, ages 16 and 24 years old. We have access to everything at the push of a button literally.

With this new president, #45, women like me have a target on our backs. However, I will fight back. I am empowered.

I will fight back for my grandma. I will fight back for my female ancestors who could not or who were too afraid to do so. I will fight or my daughters and their offspring.

How will I do this? I will empower my daughters to own their own businesses. My youngest daughter owns Doni’s Desserts. My oldest daughter owns Painted To Filth. I want them to know if there is no way, make a way.

Doni’s Desserts: Cookie Balls
Painted To Filth: Bald Headed Beauty

I will run for local office without fear. I “was going to” run in 2014 but was too afraid. I was not empowered to believe in myself and my capabilities. In the county I live in, most of it is ran by folks who do not look like me. Our school board does not represent the children who attend the schools. Our county commissioners do not represent their constituents.

So dear sister, I want you to truly reflect on who’s blood is in your veins. What did they do? How can you empower the women and girls in your family? If you don’t run for anything, can you support a woman who does? You can write emails to your local senators and representatives. You can help with voter registration. There is so much we can do but we must do something for our kids and their future.

We are empowered, ladies! It’s time to get to work!

Click here for your elected official’s contact information.

15 thoughts on “My Grandma Wasn’t Empowered but We Are”

  1. I love it “if there is no way, make a way”…primary reason I started my blog! I wanted “MY OWN”…and this is something I want to share with my children also, they are young right now but I want to encourage them as they get older to go after what they want and don’t let anyone stop them!

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  2. Yes to making a way. I’ve hazed mybookbag my path my entire life. I’m teaching my daughter to do the same.

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  3. Love this! It is so important for us to get involved in our own ways and support our kids to do then same. At times like this, we can’t shrink back, but stand up.

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  4. You’re so right! There’s so much we can do each and every one of us. We just have to get to it…

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  5. Okay, Tanya, I LOVE your final sentiments on this. Definitely going to be sharing this in my social media. The thought of envisioning who’s blood runs in your veins is deep.

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  6. Yes we are! I love how you are teaching your daughters to make their own way instead of waiting for someone else to do it.

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  7. Wow, queen! This is deep. You keep up the positivity movement and legacy with your girls and watch it spread like wildfire!

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  8. Great post. You are absolutely correct. We are empowered. I vow to do what I can to make my community a better place in turn making the world a better place. #45 will not defeat me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and tips.

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    1. Yes #45 has galvanized and awaken folks to get their behinds together and make things happen.

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  9. Living in a time when activism is important, I feel so troubled by the disconnection among the movements. There are several major movements going on at the same time, but we are all fighting our battles alone. Haven’t we learned anything from the past? There is strength in numbers and we must unite with our indigenous brothers and sisters and those from Latin American ancestry.

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    1. I agree! I kind of felt the same way. I believe it will come together as I see dialogue now abut the disconnect.

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