CORNROWS AND COMMUNITY

CORNROWS AND COMMUNITY

By O'Maria Sephers

I’ve wondered where they found strength, 

Found courage and hope, when they had nothing else to give. 

Arm in arm, they linked together and never let each other go. 

They leaned on each other during times of need. Listened when nobody else would. 

Because they knew 

with each other, 

and God on their side. Who could be against them? 

Since the beginning of time, Community was all they needed. 

For so long, I’ve wondered how they found their way home, 

How they knew the rights from lefts, 

Recognize twists from turns, 

How they never lost their way to freedom, 

To the place they call home. 

Through the pages of history books, 

I learned about a woman and the Underground Railroad, 

I learned about a civil rights movement and the countless numbers of protests. 

But through telling and sharing stories, 

I’ve learned about the different hymns my ancestors sang, 

Learned to make each dish they prepared. 

It was through my mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and on That I learned the art of braids. 

Learned that my ancestors used them to identify tribes, 

To smuggle rice into America, 

To navigate woods and waters. 

Cornrows and Community, 

That’s the answer to my question. 

The answer to how they navigated and survived

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