Honoring My Ancestors

A crowd of witnesses are cheering us on as we run this race called life. Those crowd of witnesses are our ancestors who watch over us like guardian angels who protect us, counsel us and remind us who we are and what we can be.

In these perilous times, we see pain, grief, turmoil, uncertainty, decisiveness, racism, inhumanity, loneliness And confusion. Yet peace, faith, hope and love holds the threads of this pandemic together.

For me, I have taken an inward journey that has given me a time to rest, contemplate and enjoy the simple pleasure of my backyard with its garden, its’ flowers, metal art, windchimes and hummingbirds. It has truly become my sanctuary.

In this space, I have found new creativity and the time to do it. I began to find ways to make due with what I had. As a descendantof enslaved people, my ancestors learn how to make due. They made due without a future, without hope of a better day. They made meals from throw-away parts of the pig, they made quilts from scrap materials, and they created music and craftsmanship and joy inspite of their perils.

I began to imagine, what my parents and grandparents would think and do if they were living through these times. Then, I would think about Langston Hughes’ “ Mother to Son”, the mother saying, “life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”.

I realized great people like Martin Luther King, Jr, Nelson Mandela and Maya Angelou are cheering me as part of “crowd of witnesses”. So many great ones and my personal loved ones have left the baton for me to pick and become the best that I can be.

And when I am in my garden, my sanctuary, place of peace, I pray and mediate and call out the names of my loved ones. I call out the names of those who have impacted me. I call out the names of those who have impacted the world.

And then,I began to think creatively…. how could I create some type of homage to my ancestors where I could not just say their names, but I could see there names. How can I allow others to see their names and know who guards, protects, enlightens and cheers for me.

A song came to my mind………”This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”. My ancestors’ lights shine within me. Why not let their names shine so I can see their names and allow someone else to see them too!

A lampshade, I’ll create a lamp shade covered with my ancestors, my loved ones and ancestors for the ages. It would uniquely belong to me and everytime I would gaze upon it, I would feel peace and joy, along with feeling challenged to be the best that I can.

Because I am a seamstress and simple quilt maker, I had everything I needed: —scrap materials with various prints and patterns. —white Muslim scraps. —Witcher stitchery( iron-on interface material). —plain white lamp shade. —adhesive glue. — hot steam iron. —scissors

Instructions: Step 1: Create a list of deceased relatives, loved ones and persons great or small who have impacted your life.

Step 2: Cut out rectangular strips of white Muslims long enough to fit each name. Strips will vary according to the length of the names.

Step 3: Use a permanent black marker to neatly print the individual names on the strips.

Step 4: Cut out rectangular strips of witchery- stitchery equal to the sizes of each Muslim strip.

Step 5: Cutout your patterned/ colored strips about 1/2 inch wider and 1/2 wider in order to frame the name strip.

Step 6: Match the back side of the muslim to a matching witchery-stitchery, then carefully place the strip on a patterned/ colored strip that is slightly larger to frame it and use a hot steam iron to seal hit….holding it for several seconds on both sides.

Step 7: Place adhesive glue around the edges of the back of the patterned/ colored strip and attach it to the lamp with pressure for about 30 seconds…..arranged randomly or in a pattern until you have fill the lamp shade.

Step 8: Optional: add symbols and charms with personal meaning for you if you have any space left.

When I placed the lampshade on the lamp stand and turned on the light, I felt a sense of wonder and gratitude for their names, and how I was impacted by them. I also felt a sense of responsibility and accountability knowing that they showed the way.

They showed me how to live, to work, to give, to sacrifice, to have faith, to believe, to forgive, to share, to care and to love. For that reason, I honor my ancestors.