THIS IS THE CLASS WHOSE EVERYTHING WAS CANCELED BECAUSE OF COVID. IT WAS NOT CANCELED FOR OUR FAMILY, 2020 WAS INDEED ON FOR US AND OUR HOUSEHOLD.
2020 WAS THE YEAR MY HUSBAND THE HONORABLE, INCOMPARBLE, LOVING, GOD-FEARING, HEAD AND FAITH TARLVIN RANDALL SPENT EVERY BIRTHDAY, SPENT EVERY HOLIDAY AND ATTENDED EVERY GAME THAT HE COULD. WAS HE EVER NOT WITH US? HECK YEAH, ONLY PHYSICALLY BECAUSE HE WORKED DUTIFULLY AND I MADE SURE OUR CHILDREN UNDERSTOOD THAT AND NEVER FELT SLIGHTED BECAUSE HIS PHYSICAL PRESENCE WASN’T THERE BUT THERE WERE TIMES HE WOULD GET OFF AT 8, TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS OF SLEEP AND HOP IN THE SHOW AND SHOW UP IF I PRESSED HIM ENOUGH, I WOULD ALWAYS TELL HIM, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID, TO LOOK UP AND SEE HIS STRONG MAN BODY THERE MEANT MORE THAN WHAT HE SENT TO MAKE SURE WE WERE GOOD AND HE BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND. HE WAS LOOKED FOR ME THAN ME BUT I WAS COOL WITH IT AND LOVED IT THE MOST.
SO TO SEE THIS GENERATION LOST SOMETHING, IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT I LOOK PERSONALLY AND REALIZE THAT WASN’T US IN 2020, WE GAINED A COHESION THAT WE COULD NEVER FORGET AS A RANDALL FAMILY.
NOW, THE REAL REASON WHY I AM HERE REFLECTING AND BLOGGING.
PROM 2024? IN 4 YEARS A LOT HAS SHIFTED AND IN 4 YEARS, LIFE WILL SHOW YOU HOW IT WILL KEEP MOVING AND ALTER YOUR JOURNEY.
THIS GIRL HERE HAS BEEN PLAYING TRAVEL AAU VOLLEYBALL WITH SCCVBC FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS AND WHEN I TELL YOU THE GROWTH, THE CONFIDENCE, THE INTUTION AND THE BEAUTY ALL EXUDE HER IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
EVERY SINGLE COACH SHE WAS UNDER THEIR LEADERSHIP AND ALLOWED HERSELF TO BE COACHABLE HAD A MIGHTY HAND IN WHO SHE HAS BECOME.
EVERY SINGLE TEACHER WHOSE CLASS SHE SAT IN AND WAS BLACK HAS MADE AN INDELLIBLE MARK ON HER LIFE
THE HISTORY START WITH THE PHOTOGROPHER HIMSELF, THE MR. ICONIC RILEY PRICE. IF YOU WANT YOUR PHOTO TO SPEAK A LANGUAGE ALL OF ITS OWN, HE IS THE ONE THAT BRINGS CLARITY TO THE PHRASE, A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. WHAT IS UNDERSTOOD NEED NOT BE SPOKEN BUT SNAPPED. THROUGHOUT HISTORY,
KEINER PLAZA AT SUNSET, THIS IS WHERE MY VOICE WAS DISCOVERED, MY REALIZATION OF MY DUTY WAS UNVEILED, MY STRENGTH WAS DISCLOSED AND MY REASON TO BE AN ACTIVIST CAME TO FRUITION, KEINER PLAZA, MY VERY FIRST ACTION WAS HERE, I WAS TOTALLY CLUELESS ON WHAT TO EXPECT, WHAT WAS GOING ON, WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT, I CAME IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS AND CONFUSION, I FOUND MYSELF BEING SURROUNDED BY WHITE WOMEN AND I WAS NOT HAVING ANY OF IT BUT AS THEY SURROUNDED ME MY INTUTIION KICKED IN AS I SAW COPS EVERYWHERE WITH GUNS DRAWN, I WAS TOLD BY MARY NANI LHOTAK, WHEN I MOVE YOU MOVE, THEY WILL NOT SHOOT AT ME BUT WILL YOU. I SAID SOME OFF THE WALL SMART MOUTH MARTY NASTY MOUTH COMMENT TO HER AND THEN I BEGAN TO SEE SEE AND WELL, I DID IT AND THEN IT WAS IN THAT MOMENT, I KNEW THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK.
I WILL GO TO MY GRAVE WITH THESE TWO POWERFUL QUOTES:
ST LOUIS COURT HOUSE, THIS IS WHERE THE DRED SCOTT A FREE BLACK SUED THE STATE FOR HIS RIGHTS. IT WAS INDEED A LANDMARK CASE, A HISTORIC CASE AND LIFE HAS SHOWN ME THAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE WE ALLOW WHITE MEN TO STROKE A PEN, A DAMN PEN. THEY NEED OUR IGNORANCE, OPPRESSION, COMPLIANCE, OBEDIENCE, SUPPRESSION AND REGRESSION TO REMAIN OVER US BUT EVEN THE BIBLE INFORMS US THAT THEIR TIME IS COMING TO AN END AND IT SHALL.
WE GO TO THE ARCH GROUND, HERE IS WHERE MR. PERCY GREEN TOOK ACTION TO SHED LIKE ON THE INTENTIONAL, WILLFUL, KNOWN AND LEGISLATIVE OMISSION OF BLACK ENGINEERS TO WORK ON THIS ARCH, BUT BEFORE IT BECAME THE ARCH, IT WAS AN ALL BLACK THRIVING COMMUNITY OF RESIDENTS FORCED ACROSS THE RIVER DUE TO THE EAST ST LOUIS RACE RIOTS, SO YEAH; WE ARE CONNECTED WITH DEEP ROOTS.
LASTLY, WE STAND AT THE SITE OUR DUDE WORKED NONSTOP TO CARE FOR US, PROTECT US, COMFORT US, LOVE US AND ASSURE US WHAT A MAN OF LOVE, LEADERSHIP, LEGACY AND LIGHT LOOKED LIKE, IT WAS HIM; HE STARTED AT ADAM’S MARK AND ENDED UP AT THE MARRIOT BUT THE ADDRESS REMAINED THE SAME. SO, THE BIBLE ASKED THE POIGNANT QUESTION, ”
AS I TRAVEL DOWN THIS ROAD OF REFLECTION; WE HAVE HAD A VILLAGE FOR SURE AND I HONOR AND THANK AND APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE ACT, CONVERSATION AND SHOW OF LOVE, CONCERN AND SUPPORT TO GET US TO THIS RIGHT NOW MOMENT OF THIS RITE OF PASSAGE. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU ALL, NO MATTER IF IT WAS KNOWN OR UNKNOWN OR SEEN OR UNSEEN AND HEARD OR UNHEARD; WE KNOW AND YOU KNOW!
THE SUPPORT
THE CHEERS
THE ATTA GIRLS
THE JUST CHECK INS
THE KEEP YA HEAD UPS
THE BELIEF IN HER
WE ARE GRATEFEFUL, HONORED
THE VILLAGE
THE RIDES
THE PROVISIONS
THE I GOT YOU
THE EXPOSURE
THE EDUCATION
THE TOOLS NEEDED TO NAVIGATE WHEN AT TIMES SHE FELT ALONE
THE STRENGTH
THE ENCOURAGEMENT
THE WIPED TEARS
THE SHOULDERS
THE MANY MOMMAS AND UNCLES
THE ELDERS
THE VILLAGE
THE FATH
THE FOUNDATION
THE FAVOR
THE FIGHT
THE PLACE OF SHELTER
THE REFUGE
THE SPACE
THE SPIRITUAL FULE
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT SUSTAINED ME
THE VILLAGE
THE VILLAGE RAISED HER
THE VILLAGE GAVE HER THAT PRIDE
THE VILLAGE MOLDED HER
THE VILLAGE ASSURED HER
THE VILLAGE WAS HER MIRROR
THE VILLAGE WAS HER MENTAL STRENGTH
THE VILLAGE WAS HER CONFIDENCE
THE VILLAGE WAS HER PROOF OF WHAT CAN AND WHAT IS AND WHAT SHE MUST CARRY ON TO DO AND BECOME
THE VILLAGE
SHE BUILT HER WORK ETHIC
SHE HONED HER EMPLOYABLE SKILLS AS AN ACCOMPLISHED ATHLETE OF 3 SPORTS
SHE BOOSTED HER CONFIDENCE BECAUSE OF STRONG AND HARD COACHES WHO DIDN’T PUT HER IN DANGER BUT DREW OUT OF HER AND READIED HER FOR WHAT WAS AHEAD THAT SHE COULDN’T SEE
SHE WAS NEVER ALLOWED TO MAKE EXCUSES, FAKE OR SAY I CAN’T OR DON’T KNOW HOW BECAUSE HER COACHES ASSURED HER THEY WOULD MAKE SURE SHE DID AND HER PARENTS STOOD BACK AND ALLOWED THEM TO COACH HER AND PREPARE HER FOR HER DIVINE DESTINEY IN WHATEVER CAREER FEILD
SHE HAD HER TRAJECTORY CHANGED BY TOUGH COACHES, THE COACHES BEHIND THE EARNED MONIKER CITY OF CHAMPIONS
SHE HAD HER HISTORY LITERALLY BEAT INTO HER BECAUSE WE WANTED HER RESOLVE TO BE STRENGTHEN WHEN DOUBTERS CAME, UNBELIEVERS CAME AND OTHERS WHO MAY ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK DOUBT OVER HER, SHE WOULD UNDERSTAND THOSE WERE MIND GAME TACTICS THAT WOULD NOT WIN OR DEFEAT HER, EVER
AS SHE CLOSE THIS CHAPTER OF HER LIFE’S JOURNEY, SHE WILL FACE WHO KNOWS WHAT BUT GROWING UP HERE ASSURES HER THAT SHE CAN TAKE ON AND MASTER ANY CHALLENGE, SHE WAS MADE TOUGH, SHE IS THE FACE OF RESILIENCE, CREATIVITY, BRILLIANCE AND INGENUITY
THIS VILLAGE, COMMUNITY AND CIRCLE OF SUPPORT SHE HAS IS UNMATCHED.
EVERY FEMALE COACH SHE HAD, TRAINED HER NOT ONLY IN SAID SPORT BUT WOMANHOOD. I HONESTLY WANTED HER TO HAVE ONLY BLACK TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT NOT ONLY EXPERIENCE BUT EXPOSURE, EXCEPTIONALISM, EXCELLENCE AND HIGH QALITY EDUCATOIN OF WHICH WOULD EXTRACT FROM HER AND I MUST SAY, ALL THE BLACK FEMALE TEACHERS SHE HAD, SHE SPEAKS HIGHLY OF YOU THIS DAY OF WHICH MY JOB WAS DONE BECAUSE THEY SPOKE LIFE INTO HER AND IT IS THEIR APPROACHABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND ACHIEVEMENTS THAT MAKES THEM GRADE A WOMEN.
IN PREPARING FOR THIS DAY, I AM REMINDED OF HER CLASS AT OFFICER, CLARK AND NOW EAST SIDE, IF SHE PLAYED SPORT, THEY HEARD ME SPEAK OVER THEM ATTEMPT TO TEACH THEM THEIR POWER IN UNITY AND TO TAKE THE MANY SKILLS, GIFTS, TALENTS AND CREATIVE JUICES THEY HAVE INNATELY AND REVITALIZE OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE AFTER ALL, THEY ARE THE FUTURE
I AM REMINDED OF MICHAEL BROWN MOTHER WHEN SHE ASKED THROUGH HER HEARTACHE, PAIN AND ANGUISH, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT TOOK TO GET HIM TO GRADUATE, THAT WAS A MOUTH FULL.
Leave a Reply