By Barry Curtis
“Oh grandma I praise thee, you queen, you giant of ageless charm and beauty. Oh great brown lady of grace I adore you”
The African American grandmother has proven herself to be the savior of the black family. The number of households being led by grandmother figures is staggering. According to the census bureau by 2004 there were 5 million kids under the age of 18 living with grandparents. I suspect by personal observation that most of these are black kids.
We can all site the horrific statistics about the horrors of the black families with absent fathers and mothers. We know about the destructive impact of drugs and violence in the black homes and the scourge of abortion on black girls and women.
We need not look far to see the importance of grandma. First Lady Michelle Obama has her mother living in the White House taking care of her and the President’s two daughters. Give this a thought. Mrs. Obama could have the best care in the world in the White House and her choice was her mother, amen.
Who would be the esteemed guardian of future generations if not grandma? What would become of the black community without her? Think of grandma, just close your eyes and think of grandma. Think of those wonderful meals, those amazing stories and her hands. Oh yes her hands. GOD loves us thru grandma’s hands. Grandmas blessed hands that mended the clothes and kneaded the bread. Grandma possessed those hands that spanked our butts and lovingly tended to our wounds. Grandma welded those amazing hands that picked cotton all day and held the gospel as she read to us at night.
My fraternal grandmother traveled in a covered wagon to Oklahoma territory well before Oklahoma became a state. She attended a boarding school for deaf mutes, because she was one. Don’t tell her that was a handicap she went on to raise 13 kids and a number of grandkids.
My paternal grandmother was domestic worker; she was a maid for rich households (or at least households richer than she). We called her little grandma, because she was small in stature but large in moral fiber. Valtee Walker was her name and I do miss her. She made the most wonderful blankets each year for the family; she made one for me and for my son. I still have it and cherish her handmade artifact. Grandmothers are the unsung hero of not only the black community but of our hearts.
I think I will now go snuggle up in little grandma’s blanket.
Barry Curtis is the host of The Curtis Report “your last report on Sunday talk” airing on KLIF every Sunday at 5 p.m. www.thecurtisinitiative.com.
