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Journeying through the Portal of Intergenerational Healing
Yesterday will always be etched in my memory. The sun was radiating its warmth, while the air was filled with the alluring fragrance of incense. I could sense the strong presence of our ancestors, guiding and shielding us. It was a day dedicated to honoring and celebrating our roots, a day of ancestral remembrance. As I entered the Praise House, I felt a surge of pride and reverence. Charmaine Minniefield, is a renowned Art Activist who orchestrated and presented this magnificent gathering for The Praise House Projects. The communal spaces provided a platform to pay tribute to our ancestral communities and draw attention to the importance of honoring them, while also addressing the issue of presented by slavery, Jim Crow and modern day gentrification and its effects on African American communities throughout the diaspora. Her activism focused on the power of love, which should guide us towards a brighter tomorrow. The sound of drums( once forbidden due to slavery), tambourines, sekere, and rhythmic stomping/clapping filled the air, serving as a means to communicate with each other and our ancestors. Today, we celebrated our roots, traditions, and spirituality. We honored the ancestors of the Beacon Hill community in Decatur, GA, and all those who were present. Together, we embarked on a journey through the doorway of our forefathers, and their boundless love enveloped us. As we swayed and twirled to the rhythm, I sensed the burden of generations of racial suffering being lifted from our shoulders. In that moment, I witnessed the descendants of our enslaved ancestors embracing our ancestral African spirituality with open arms, alongside a diverse group of individuals, creating space for intergenerational healing. Centuries of fear, misconception, and shame that had been imposed upon us were being shed. We embraced the healing, beauty, and love that our spiritual selves have to offer. It was a profound and transformative experience, one that will forever stay with me. So here’s to yesterday, a day of honoring our ancestors, healing, and jubilation. A day that reminded us of our identity, our origins, and the resilience of our people. And as we continue on our journey, let us never forget the power and magnificence of both our indigenous African infused with our post slavery Southern spirituality.