Returning To My Hometown For Our Family Reunion

My husband and I along with our two daughters drove more than five hundred miles for our #family reunion. When we arrived in the sleepy little town of Mullins, South Carolina; I felt the butterflies of nervousness evolve. My very inward parts felt magnified as I saw locations within my hometown that reminded me of happy and sad occasions. The oppressive yolk of #racism became a reminder as I passed different places. The old movie theater did not allow blacks to sit on the first floor, only the balcony. In the 1960s in particular restaurants and public places downtown, signs were posted that said, "for colored or for whites only." It was a difficult time for our nation, but we overcame those days. I was also overwhelmed with the joyous memories of walking downtown with my mother as we shopped in various stores. That joy I felt, exceeded any previous sadness. I was glad to be home again in this docile little town. I could not wait to see my family and friends.

We arrived at a location beside railroad tracks where I use to play. It was beside the Mullins water tower that is elevated over my favorite area. The place where our reunion was held, would not be considered as fancy from the outside. We parked on the sand and little tender grass sprouts. Once inside, I could see the place was remodeled quite tastefully. There were beautiful linen napkins and tablecloths. Appetizers of salad, fruit and other morsels were discretely displayed. #Cousins walked up casually and welcomed us. Some I did not recognize because they were the children and grandchildren of my cousins. Suddenly, I saw cousins that I grew up together with. I immediately ran and hugged them. It was so good to see them. I introduced my family as they proudly revealed their lineage. What a joy it was to see at least one hundred different family members.

During the family reunion, we encouraged our young that they could accomplish anything. We acknowledged the historical accomplishments of such family members as #Bessie Coleman, the first black female pilot in the United States. Her photo is displayed in the #Wright Brothers National Memorial Museum, located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. It was a source of pride to walk in the facility and see one of our family members publicly displayed as an American civil aviator. Wikipedia, described her as it states, "She was the first female pilot of African American descent and was also the first woman of #Native American descent to hold a pilot license." Bessie is a source of pride not only for our family as Black Americans but also for Native Americans. My father's mother was a native American.

The real story featured in the movie Hidden Figures also acknowledged a family member. #Katherine Johnson's, maiden name is Coleman. She is related to my father's side of the family. Annie, who was my father's sister, would talk with tremendous pride about Katherine, who worked for #NASA. Described by Wikipedia as "... .an African-American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. manned spaceflights." For 35 years Katherine performed manual calculations and worked with the computers."Her work included calculating trajectories, launch windows and emergency return paths for Project Mercury spaceflights, including those of astronauts Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and John Glenn, the first American in orbit, and rendezvous paths for the Apollo lunar lander and command module on flights to the Moon." Her involvement in the space program brought Katherine recognition for the beginning of the Space Shuttle program, and mission to Mars."In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Johnson the #Presidential Medal of Freedom."

The Coleman family has a proud heritage of Native American descent that comes through the mother of my father, Earlie Coleman. We appreciate the melting pot of all races which includes Caucasian and other cultures which creates the origin of our family's history.

We are a family that has accomplished significant things in the fields of education, politics and public service. One of the most important things to my family is their love and respect for Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ. Our family is close and in constant desire to gather every two years to support and show love for each other. I am thankful for that desire because we always acknowledge that no matter how far we have to travel, we need each other. Our reunions are vital, and they help us maintain unity. I wanted to make sure that my daughters attended so that they can learn the same appreciation for the family unit. Going back to my roots not only brought back memories but it helped me to feel not only was I home but that I am a part of something special, a family.