Keeping History “100” is the best way, for me, to sum up my conversation with Kathy Perdue. I asked Kathy to give me her interpretation of what the theme “History is Personal” means and if she would “Give Life To History” as it pertains to her family’s history. Influenced by her mother and her ancestral spirit, Kathy kept it “100.” It was important for me to understand that she was going to keep it “100” and she did.

I want to thank Daphine for agreeing to return for a part two of her interview to share the history of her paternal Jamaican lineage.

Thank you, Daphine Johnson, for sharing your time and history with us. I am always amazed to hear about the triumphs of our ancestors. When Daphine spoke of her great-grandmothers decision to work, sacrifice, save, and purchase 40 acres of land, it caused me to question, like always, how did they achieve so much while we are losing so much? Daphine spoke of her great-grandmothers regimen of being organized in her thoughts and missions without having a higher level of “formal education” as perceived in the writing of her will, but she achieved! There is always something to learn from the examples set by our ancestors: survival, stubbornness to achieve better, a foundation to lean/stand on, and more.

At 6:00 PM (EST), 12 February 2022, I vicariously boarded the Casey Family Train of peace and freedom seekers inside of a Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Railroad passenger coach. The tour guide was Janice Casey Bond. She took me back to Martha Scarborough, Columbus Casey - those who endured the institution of slavery. I watched ancestors leave Alabama and discover newness in Louisville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Indiana. She showed me the life of a little girl who became a woman amid segregation, racial slurs, and a lack of historical awareness. Janice’s discoveries showed her, on several occasions, that her history would become more than what she knew.

This interview was conducted immediately following Jeanne’s story about father. She ended her last interview laying out responsibilities for adults 50 and over as it pertains to sharing and preserving family/African American history. This episode gives us a brief description of Jeane’s mother.

I have really been blessed over the years and through this podcast. After speaking with Ora Jeane Warner-Hall three times this week, I thanked God for the opportunity to receive wisdom from ladies/guests who were old enough to be an older sibling, my mother, and or grandmother. I want to thank all of them for the legacies they are building through Old School Thoughts. Ora gave me a new look of Mississippi from the view of a Gulfport and Mississippi City resident.

Listening to Damonta filled me with many thoughts and emotions because it was great having a mature conversation with a 28 year-young African American man. He opened my mind when he spoke about representing three generations of being a foster care family member; the need to be intentional; and his oral description of America. I am so grateful to have met Damonta and look forward to speaking him, again.

We can’t have a part one without a part two - so here we are. Charnita ended the part one assessing her mothers generation as it pertained to the village. Because I didn’t want the interview to end without a complete explanation, I requested that we continue with a part two. Charnita will share a poem with us that captures her deepest thoughts about how she feels about “The Village.”

Today, Charnita contacted me and requested an interview to talk about “The Village” as we know it. Charnita did what I want all of you to do: volunteer to tell your story. Charnita gives a clear description of the village and its value. This conversation definitely required a part two. Feel free to share your perspective.

Charles gave me a new perspective on the history of identifying someone as a Conductor. This title was given to Harriett Tubman as she began to lead more family members and enslaved friends to freedom. Charles is operating at a level of concern to connect family members who have been separated by institutional laws, family migration, and more. He stated that he wants to reunite 200 family members in five years and I followed with him reuniting 500 members. I equated him to being a Conductor and he assigned himself to being the Engineer. All of that means big goals and responsibility. This conversation requires a comeback.