In African culture, multiple generations of families often live, work, socialize, dance, make music and preserve their histories together. Last names, in many cased describe the people, the regions they live in, the paths they travelled, and their skills.
In America, African Americans endured and suffered through the institution of slavery. During slavery, when our people were considered property, children were sold away from their parents, and husbands and wives had to separate when they ran away for freedom. Even after institutionalized slavery, Jim Crow laws and racism forced our people to move to regions where they would be educated and employed. In many cases, families were torn apart by these injustices and never reconnected.
Today, we have a new opportunity to restore our connections and define ourselves as a people. We have technology that allows us access to each other with the push of a button or the picking up of a telephone. When we gather, we acknowledge our roots, our connections, our values, our gifts. When we gather, we create new stories that become our legacies, and through them we live on!
The Holley Family Gathering is Happening!
When: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Where: Belmont Picnic Grove, Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA
Who: Descendants of Gregory Holley
Time: 10 am to 6pm
Cost: $10 per Adult, FREE for Children (to recover the cost of space)
Activities: Arts and Crafts, Volley Ball, Baseball, Horseshoes, Basketball, Storytelling and Games
Food: Please bring food for your immediate family and enough to share if you can
This gathering is a work in progress. Please come out with love and light to share with our beautiful family members. Let's get to know each other and build our village.
Questions: send an email to HolleyFamilyGetsTogether@gmail.com
