Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 11-25-16 Online Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016
Is Thanksgiving Still Celebrated The Traditional Way Or Has It Gone Modern?
BY E. G. MOORE Sentinel Special Writer
In our curiosity about how Thanksgiving is celebrated in different families, I spoke with several individuals around the country and the following are their responses:
MARY WATSON MCKAY
Mary is the 9th child in a family of 10 children, six girls and four boys. At the Watson home, Mary’s mother did all the cooking and the Thanks- giving dinner, except for the collard greens that were so tastily prepared by her father, that there were never any left. The Watsons had traditional baked turkey with all the usual sides, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, sweet potato pies, cakes and all the other Thanks- giving foods.
Those 6 girls did not assist their mom in the cooking for their Thanksgiving dinner. In- stead, they chose to sit around, relax and enjoy the company of each other. In order for every- one to be able to sit together, they placed two picnic tables
together. Since there were so many to feed, they chose to use paper ware rather than china and silver.
After dinner, instead of washing a boat-load of dishes, they were able to sit around and watch football, listen to old school records, dance, pretend to be the Supremes, talk, laugh and just enjoy the kind of fun that only a family that size would ever imagine having.
PRISCILLA KEITH
Priscilla is the daughter of Reverend William and Mrs. Pattirene Harvey. The Harvey family celebrates Thanksgiving by rotation of their celebration from Jackson County (Marianna) to as far away as Tallahassee. This year the celebration will be in Mar- ianna. Each family member is given a specific dish or dishes to prepare. Priscilla is preparing green beans and corn casserole.
The celebration will be at the home of her father’s brother, Thomas Harvey,
who lives only a few blocks from Priscilla. The gathering includes all the Harvey sib- lings, their wives and children, grandchildren, great-grand- children, etc. Usually, there are around 35 to 50 people in at- tendance. Uncle Thomas is the designated turkey fryer for the family. Dinner is usually around 1 p. m. Afterward, the family sits around to reminisce and enjoy the company of each other as well as the blessings they have shared during the past year.
KEVIN BODIE
Kevin and his siblings, a sister and one other brother, gather at their mother’s home during the week before Thanksgiving, along with their children. At this time, they cel- ebrate in the traditional man- ner with turkey and all the trimmings prepared by their mother.
However, there is a second celebration on Thanksgiving Day which is not so traditional. This gathering includes his ex-
tended family: uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. The celebration is theme-based. Each year the family chooses the theme they want to use for that particular year, which might be seafood, soul food, Italian, or whatever they happen to decide upon.
In the past, they have always held the gathering at his grandfather’s house. This year, since his grandfather is no longer with them, they will possibly have a new venue this Thanksgiving Day. Kevin said that he is 40 years old and that his family has followed this tra- dition for as far back as he can remember.
BETTY WILKERSON TROTMAN
Betty is from a small family with only one other sibling, who grew up in Parkton, North Carolina. Their family of four (Betty, her brother, their mother and father) usually cel- ebrated Thanksgiving alone with no other family members.
Although her family was small, her mother still pre- pared a big traditional meal, which included turkey and all the trimmings. She even in- cluded chitterlings on the menu. Betty said that she often helped with the cleaning of the chitterlings until she got tired of doing it. Now that Betty has her own family, she celebrates Thanksgiving at home with her husband, chil- dren and grandchildren and
still follows the traditional method.
IRENE WILLIAMS
Irene grew up in Lansing, Michigan and her family cele- brated Thanksgiving the tradi- tional way as well, with turkey and cornbread dressing and all the trimmings. They also had chitterlings. However, they had both baked and fried turkey.
Now that her mother is liv- ing in an Assisted Living Facil- ity, all of the siblings prepare the food in advance and carry it to Lansing where their mother is still living. For their Thanksgiving dinner celebra- tion, they use the community facility room. Their gathering consists of from 35 to 70 peo- ple each year.
After dinner, there is an im- mediate cleanup process since they are not at home, and this limits the amount of time they have to sit around to commu- nicate with each other. Yet, it is still worthwhile, because, they get to see and spend time with their mother.
Club 44 ‘Drops The Mic’ At President Obama’s Farewell
Guests of Club 44 gathered on Sunday afternoon, Novem- ber 13, 2016, at the beautiful and intimate setting of Suite Occasion, Tampa, to bid farewell to the nation’s first Black president. Members CaSandra Washington, Jean Collins and Jackie Wilds served as Co-chairs of the event.
Eight years ago a group of women bonded through their volunteerism for the election of our 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. Their mantra was “social with a purpose.” Voter registration, voter education, and support for the President’s education, health and social initiatives established Club 44’s platform for embracing the historic election and gov- ernance by President Obama.
With Sonja Garcia and Frances Sykes as spokes- women, respectively, Club 44
Club 44 members from left to right: Jean Collins, Frances Sykes, Barbara Jackson, Evelyn Bethune, Jacquelyn Wilds, Sonja Garcia, CaSandra Washington, Pearlyne Wilson, Demoris Rhodes, and Ruby Brown. Not pictured – Ruth Bell, Patricia Miles, and Bernadette Yee.
President Obama;
Served as long term hosts of out-of-state campaign work- ers;
Held four dinner dances in celebration of President Obama
Met and greeted First Lady Michelle Obama;
Sent birthday cards, annu- ally, (August 4th) to the Presi- dent.
Club 44 “dropped the mic,” symbolically, on Sunday, indi- cating an end to club activities. Sonja Garcia, founder of the organization, stated, “We ac- knowledge, however, that our Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, President Barack Obama, will remain a celebrated man of great courage, honor, intel- lect and achievement.”
Further, the First Family of these United States (2009- 2017) leaves an indelible mark of pride and deserves this na- tion’s highest praise and grat- itude.
has supported the President’s platform, and ultimately, the Tampa community:
Contributed more than $2,500 to St. Peter Claver Catholic School;
Contributed $1,000 to the President Obama Re-election Campaign;
Contributed $500 each to The Felicia Wintons Health Care Fund; The Cedric “CJ”
Carrington Education Endow- ment; The Abe Brown Prison Crusade Ministry;
Contributed more than 500 volunteer hours toward the election and re-election of
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