Reflecting on family in honor of Black History Month

Martin Luther King is a much celebrated and venerated man who was thrust into a leadership position he did not seek. We all know some of his most famous quotes but do we also think that he said "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." These statements cover all people, not just Black Americans. There is no justification not to honor his legacy. The history of this country will be on display for its 250th year anniversary. The history of African Americans is American history. The good, the bad and the ugly for my family tree cannot be ignored. We now refer to my ancestors as enslaved rather than slaves. They did not come here as slaves but became enslaved because of this system. We are not alone in our mistreatment. Our country's history is checkered when it comes to various ethnic groups. Native Americans, Japanese, Hispanic Americans have had ups and downs in our collective history. We all need to take a look. I wrote a book titled "Looking at Elyria History with Ebony Eyes'' volume I. Growing up as a beneficiary of the Great Migration, I received an excellent education starting in McKinley School. The fact that I was the only Black female in my class from kindergarten to seventh grade gave me a different set of lenses. Entering in the early 1950s and 1960s forced me to have a different set of lenses. All I ask for the following months is for people to consider that we all have a story to tell. Consider the concept that art imitates life. Women's history month, Hispanic history and others are an attempt to recognize that this is not an all-white American world. Some may wish that, but it is not true. The Great Migration is a historic movement story of African Americans who migrated from the South for employment opportunities, educational freedom and flight from Southern tyranny. The years 1912 to 1965 (signing of the Civil Rights bill) were documented as the enveloping years. Isabel Wilkerson first wrote about the movement in "The Warmth of Other Suns" and also the book titled "Caste." Why and how did Lorain County benefit from this American story? The family lenses that I interviewed generally had joyful ending. Moving to various locations around the country, my African American stories celebrate educational opportunities here and economic stability. Many families came from Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina and Arkansas. Why do we keep talking about the past? What's so good about what happened 60 or 70 years ago? If we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it. We all have a story. As I interviewed participants, you can also consider these questions. What do you remember about your childhood? Why does this memory still remain with you? What people influenced you as a child? Because our past is important, we cannot ignore it. The same goes for the history of this country. Think about what the doctor asks you when you appear for a physical. They immediately ask about diseases or conditions your parents and grandparents had. Believe it or not, conditions they had impact you. If there were heart problems for a parent, the same may apply you. The same applies to the history of this country. We cannot ignore the treatment of African Americans, Native Americans and, I can add women to that category. No, you may not have been there to mistreat anyone, but its part of your legacy. As we celebrate 250 years of American history, should we cheer about the Great Migration? I say yes. As a beneficiary of the Great Migration, I recognize the sacrifice and courage of my parents to make that move. My father left Alabama in 1946. He came to Elyria following two cousins and rented a room on North Street (now Kerstetter Way). The house had three bedrooms. I can remember North Street as a street where African Americans were rented one room per family. There were two additional families in this home. Talk about creativity. One house, one kitchen and one bathroom. As my uncles and grandparents also migrated North, they could obtain one bedroom in a house and they did. My father occupied this situation for about 3 years before he was able to acquire a house, land contract, of our own. The drawing card for men was jobs. Paul was able to obtain a "good" job at General Motors when they first opened in 1947. The options for Black women were clearly outlined. You would be a domestic cleaning houses, a restaurant cook or possibly a laundry worker. My mother was fortunate to obtain work as a domestic and farm worker. Along with my father's job, my mom created her legacy with cleaning and the Grobe family. Farm work is difficult and a daily continuous grind. My mother started with Erma Grobe who she said picked her out of a line of workers, "take the tall one." Mom was an apple grader before the machinery did that job. Mom's job opened the door for my brother Paul and me to be farm laborers early. I learned to pick apples, peaches and potatoes on the farm. Her work relationship with this family covered over 50 years. Years later, she moved into the house to assist with cooking and was famous for her fried chicken and corn provided for workers. It was a family relationship that supported their family and ours for years. Looking back, it was not about color it was about character. Did the migrants leaving the South face discrimination in their new Northern home? Of course. Not only them, but foreigners from Hungary, Poland and other places. It was still America but because of the need for workers, many migrating people were able to find a job with a paycheck. Automation increased productivity and because of legislation passed by Congress in 1924, they ruled to limit the number of European immigrants allowed into the country. This made it easier to hire Blacks. Northern unions also helped because they paid uniform wages to Blacks and whites. My father used to say people are people. If you have not read "Caste'' or the "Warmth of other Suns'' by Isabel Wilkerson, please do. I will place a Black History Display at the West River Library during February. Your local library will also have a list of recommended reading of African American history books available. Shirley Reeder is a local author and historian. Contact her at shirleyreeder8198@gmail.com.