a little something i wrote… (pt. 7)
This is my Granny’s Story. She lived a nice 77 years and saw a lot of things. She was married to a white man, which was very frowned upon in the south, so when she visited, she raised hell a couple of times. She worked as a Janitor for the Joliet, IL Courthouse for 35 years. She saw people walk up and down those hallways rightfully and wrongfully convicted. She marched in Mississippi along with Dr. King, and spoke peace in the face of violence. She carried this motto, “Don’t make life for yourself harder than it has to be, unless you’re fighting for it to be easier.” Oh, but her voice smooth like butter would make you feel comforted, even when she was telling you off, but she meant business and she’ll make you go grab your own switch for her to prove it, because that’s just who she was.
I chose to dedicate this portfolio to her because the last time I talked to her was the last week of summer bridge, and she said, “I’m so proud of you baby! You done been speaking spanish all these years and now you’re going to a school I couldn’t didn’t try hard enough. I love you, stay strong! And do me a favor, keep on cooking like I taught you!” She passed away the Monday after summer bridge ended. Something in me thinks that she knew it was coming, her time was near, and she just hated saying the word “good-bye” so she did it her way. The past year has made me experience what she was fighting for, she’s had dinner with Jesse Jackson, spoken with some Reverend, and was in an interracial marriage. Also a competitive bowler, and from what I’ve heard she was really good!
My Granny was a Trailblazer, and forever will be to me.
