Breathe Again!

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1

When I was a child living in Albany, Georgia, I remember my mother going downtown to run errands and buy groceries and we never had a babysitter. She sometimes worked part-time and no, we did not have a sitter and she did not have to worry about us, because she knew that the "Village" would take of us while she out taking care of business or working. If I became distressed, I could go to any woman in our neighborhood and receive the comfort I needed, but, if I was being bad (and believe me, I could be very bad), one of those same neighborhood women would also give me a scolding or spanking, depending what I had done. When my mother got home, she got a full report and depending upon my transgression, I either got another scolding or she instructed me to go out to the front yard and get a switch. My legs would later burn for a while, because those little thin switches didn't break skin, but they did leave some welts that would burn like crazy. My point today is that they were a supportive unit, a true sisterhood that was very strong. No mother would turn a child in need away, nor would they harm a child. With all the advances that we have attained today we have also lost something in the transition and that is our togetherness. I read in a magazine once (can't remember which one) that most Black women will turn their head and will not look another Black women in the eyes to avoid speaking especially if they thought that the person was not their equal. So I decided to test this and see if it was true. To my astonishment it was true. I had a pretty good job at the time, and was either dressed for work, or casually, in nice slacks or a skirt. But, I decided a long time ago that my life would not be ruled by things, so I left the designer duds in the store. I guess these women looked at me and find me wanting, because most of them would either turn their heads or never look directly at me. Some, would not speak when I greeted them. I knew then that the codes that our parents had lived by were no more and that how much money you made or your husband made, or how much money you had in the bank is what most of them use to decide who is worthy for friendship or to run in the same circles. How did we get to this point and how can we find our way back, which doesn't mean that we have to give up what we like, but we need to "Return to the village" and soon, before it is too late.