Page 19 - Lighthouse of Hope Magazine

Learning through

the generations

This article explores why it’s important for Black communities to share their history and expe-
riences intergenerationally, and reveals how families, communities and churches can do so.

I smiled when I heard the phrase, ‘We roll deep’.
It was used by a young woman, who was de-
scribing her relationship with her parents. Given
the rhetoric around dysfunctional families,
it was good to hear her talk about a positive
experience with her parents. I asked the young
woman to expand her description, and she
explained, “‘Rolling deep’, in this context, means
a deep, understanding and respectful relation-
ship. We are open and honest; I learn from them
and they learn from me.” That’s quite a powerful
statement, which I think deserves further reflec-
tion in the context of Black History Month.

It is important to ask the question how our
community understands intergenerational re-
lationships. When people are raised in different of interest, but because of a failure to connect Wisdom, courage and determi-
time periods, their values and perceptions of the them with their history and legacy. Such nation fill the stories of many
world can be quite different, and this can lead disconnection is troubling and affects young who left African and Caribbean
to difficulties in understanding one another. Be- men in particular, since this is the group shores many years ago; these
cause of this gap in understanding, it’s import- over-represented in prison and in mental stories still inspire us today. I say
ant for us to find links between younger and hospitals. The young must be better informed it’s time to celebrate our cultural
older generations, so as to build the reservoir of about their place in our history, otherwise identity which is far too often
knowledge and experience. how will they take full charge of the mantle misrepresented, when it is not
we must pass on? being ignored in the main-
Learning through the generations is not a new stream.
concept; it is how we have told our story of Since the Civil Rights period, a revolution in
struggle, triumph and celebration across the consciousness that encompasses many Black We (grandparents and par-
ages. The Community needs to become creative institutions – including the Black Church – has ents) owe it to our children
in recording and telling a 200-year post-slavery emerged, and continues to grow amongst and grandchildren to set aside
story. That story is one of Black identity, strength our young people. They need mentors and our differences, and unite on a
and solidarity. The story involves women, men role models, so they can play a full and active common purpose so that our
and children. It’s a freedom story about our col- part in society. Young people also have a key collective story can be told. After
lective struggle, contribution and reconciliation role to play in church, and should be trusted all, through the generations,
with each other across the continents. to achieve their calling and mission. The late our story rolls deep, very deep
African-American writer, John Henrik Clarke, indeed. So wherever you are
History states that Carter G Woodson initiated wrote: “If we are to change tomorrow, we are on your journey in life, pause
the Negro History Week in the USA in February going to have to look back with some cour- for a moment to remember
1926, which then became Black History Month age, and warm our hands on the revolution- those who came before us, and
(BHM). He chose February, because the birth- ary fires of those who came before us.” consider sharing their story this
days of two influential figures took place within Black History Month.
it: Abraham Lincoln, US President and abolition- Intergenerational relationship is not some- Pastor Dr. Jeannette C.
ist, and author, Frederick Douglass thing churches do – it’s something they
become. It’s nothing short of a paradigm shift, Holmes-Vann recog-
The Church should be central to BHM here in and the whole church must value intergen- nized the value of shar-
the United States because, had it not been for erational relationships and community at a ing history throughout
a faithful and traditional generation (ie. those core, philosophical level. This shift requires
born between 1927 and 1956),our struggle for that all of the leaders of the church (not the generations. For
racial equality and for other social justices would just the youth leader) buy into the value of several months the
have been so much harder. It was the Church intergenerational ministry, and commit to young and the old had
that gave individuals the belief that they were changing the culture of the church over the
created in the image of God and given value, long haul. This does not mean eradicating opportunities to learn
worth and dignity. The message of Christ filled age-specific ministries, because they work to stories of our rich heri-
that generation with hope, joy, determination a point; all ages still need their own space to tage through films and
and courage to keep on keeping on. BHM grow and develop at their own pace. But ev- discussions.
surveys show that too few of our young people eryone needs to be part of a web of relation-
know our collective story, not because of a lack ships that includes their peers AND members
of interest, but because of a failure to connect of other generations.

MIRACLE DAY/ LOH Magazine / February 2016 19

DAY OF JUBILEE

Sunday, May 22, 2016