By Roger Caldwell
After eating, praying, and giving thanks, Americans will be left smiling after all the activities during this holiday. For the many left smiling, there will be too much to eat, and especially too much to drink.
Thanksgiving is a family tradition and rituals designed to spread warmth and love to family members and friends who have not been seen for months and years. A time to catch up with family members’ health, their new jobs, who is in college, new babies, and just to share. Everyone has a special dish to prepare, and everyone comes back for seconds and thirds.
No one complains as Uncle John and Aunt Sarah are starting to slur their words. The music is turned up and the beat is jumping. The real singers have the microphone, and it is starting to get hot as they jam to their favorite song.
As the checker board, chess board, and dominoes come out, the best teams are lining up to beat inferior players. Bid Whist players already have their teams set up from years of playing, so they are talking stuff as the cards come out. We must remember that many of the women have been cooking for two or three days, and now the fun is getting ready to start.
This is a precious time, and libations are given for the fallen elders and those who have left the planet much too soon. For African Americans the sisters/women like to brag about who has the cheesiest macaroni, and who has the best sweet potato pie. No one will admit there are bragging rites, but the new sisters are asking for recipes and which ancestor did they learn it from.
On the TV in the basement, the men are looking at football and the conversation is about who is the best quarterback or team. As the conversation gets louder “Siri” solves many of the augments, because she gives out facts. These are good times and everyone feels loved.
During these American holidays, African Americans must turn them into rituals, indigenous African traditions. The African American family is divided and it is important to connect holiday events to our ancestors to the realm of Spirit. Anytime the family comes together, it is important to practice sacredness and intentionality.
“From birth until death, rituals mark every milestone in a person or family’s life. Rituals anchor the individual and family to the community, and give structure and meaning to life,” says Djenaba Dioum Kelly – From The Chopra Center.
In 2019, in the African American family there is a major generational gap between, the old, the middle, the youth, and the young. It is very easy for each generation to blame the other, but in order for the Africans, the African Americans, and the children of the Diaspora to unite, it must start with every immediate family uniting. It starts with respect of each other, and no one is better than the other.
Africans believe to have good standing in the spirit realm; they must maintain a good relationship with their ancestors. “Almost anything can become a ritual as long as you set an intension for general well-being and positive energy. For example before a gathering of family members, you can set an intension for love and communication to flow between all present,” says Djenaba Kelly.
Thanksgiving is a time for African American families to access the power of their ancestry, and deepen the connection of family. Learn more about your linage and go back a couple of generations.
As African Americans reach out to their family and connect to their ancestors, it is important to share and give. Practice love and begin the journey back to soul, and achieve wholeness
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