Came across a 15 year old pic of me, my father and a couple of his brothers. A pic that always brought forth a depth of thought which I know isn't unique to me. My father's fair skin and the challenges he faced in the 50's, 60's and 70's from both sides of society because of it...me watching as that played out. Mills men, but with the knowledge of our surname actually belonging to David & Robert Mills...Slave holders in East Texas who owned my Great-great Grandfather, Ned...thus we perpetually walk through life with the slave holders name.
The limited ability to find much about Ned's lineage...because although he was freed at age 41 by President Lincoln in 1865, the U.S. census didn't consider blacks human prior, they were property, thus they're not listed in any state census until 1870. Finally, the irony of the fact that my father has 2 other brothers who are not pictured, but their names just happen to be David and Robert...reoccurring names without a context of why.
I know my story isn't unique. Thus, as we enter Black history month, my hope is we all appreciate those aspects of the African-American experience that still have a reverberating affect today. Stay blessed.
