There is nothing like the presence of an old black woman. I say that with the utmost respect and honor.
Old black women are the window to the soul of the black experience. Look at her face; it is worn with the burden of the ages. The deep out lines of her wrinkles chronicle the history of black America. They are the proof of life and death, of tyranny and abuse.
Her wrinkles demand the respect of those that have lived, fought, and died before her. Those magnificent wrinkles show the evidence of the witness to history. The wrinkles constitute the virtual life line of the black journey in this country. They are proof that black mothers and grandmothers are raising their children as well as their grandchildren.
It is clear that if it weren’t for the older black women, there would be no evidence of the black family. Old black women are holding together what is left of the black family. We can say that with great certainty since young black women who are having some babies are not taking care of them. The babies that the young black women don’t want are being aborted in record numbers.
We thank you old black women, not for your oldness but in spite of it. We know that you have grown old too quick, much at the cost of your own health and well-being. We know that you didn’t get to finish your education, old black woman; instead you favored giving up much to allow other younger children to complete their education.
We thank you old black women for feeding, clothing and securing the children at all cost. We know mostly at a significant life altering cost to you. We know that breast cancer and heart disease kills older black women at a disproportionate rate than your white counter parts. We know that old black women are less likely to seek medical attention for themselves. The cost of no medical care is obvious to see.
We thank you old black women for picking up the slack where young and old black men have failed to live up to their responsibility. The numbers are staggering: 78% of all births in the black homes are born to a one parent household.
We thank you old, black women, with your aged royal face and your crested silver crown of grey hair. We honor and salute you. We are indebted beyond our ability to comprehend. We should repay you but how would we calculate such a contribution to our world.
Thank you old and grey black women. I love you.
Barry Curtis can be reached at Thecurtisreport.com.
