These pictures (among hundreds of others) graced the walls / davenports / side table tops of my grandmother’s (DOB 1911) and great-grandmother’s (aka Mimi – DOB 1893) houses 🏡. My weekend visits were often spent listening to my older ancestors / parents / aunties (both blood + designated) talk about their life experiences (+ some gossip) about all of our older family members. My great uncle Charlie (aka Fact Check Charlie – DOB 1891) spoke his mind + often threw shade, spilling many of Mimi’s + others’ secrets 🤣.

The larger photo on the left shows 5 generations of my family. I am the last living descendant. The youngest in the bottom right is my grandmother (DOB 1911) and the oldest (center row, right) is my grandma Charity (DOB 1812), who lived ~108 yrs. During those yrs, she was fathered / enslaved by ⚪️ slave owner Mabry + then raped / enslaved by ⚪️ slave owner DeFreeze, who fathered my GMA Betty + her siblings (add’l slaves =💰), along with his own 10+ kids (w/ his wife). Their enslavement was across a few states, ending in Texas.

🎊🎊🎊 My grandma Charity along w/ GPA Billy, GPA George, GMA Betty, GPA John, GMA Julia, GPA Sandy, GMA Ella, + many other relatives were all freed from slavery in TEXAS on 6/19/1865. 🎊🎊🎊

🖤 THANK YOU for your strength + perseverance! 🖤

#Juneteenth #Freedom #19June1865 #Texas