From my mother
To my mother's father
From his mother and father
and their parents, my Great-Greats
Lydia and Derry
During a time when couples stayed married
To Big Mamma
4ft 2, 104lbs, still the strongest woman I've known
Bore 12 to help work the fields
From slavery to pickin' cotton
Boys plowin' da fields, butcherin' hogs
Girls out back wringin' chicken necks for suppa
And milkin' da cows in the pasture
As I stare at their photos on my wall
Of those that i see, came the production of me!
5th Generation Girl
Breaking down barriers, standing tall-
Living AFFIRMATIVELY!
Eighty-six, my grandfather got that name the day
a white man spit on him
"Get on your side of the road, ya damn Nigger!"
From him came Effie who at 19, bore Tammy
Oh, where would I be without my
ancestors who paved the way for me!
Through sweat, pain, tears, tornado's, southern storms
Twelve mouths to feed for at least eighteen years
From segregated schools, protest and hard times
I'll tell you where I wouldn't be....
Because of the doors you've opened
nearly dying and sometimes dying for me!
Without your struggles
I, as a black girl would not have this opportunity
to spread my wings and thrive
Oh glory...God bless your souls!
I thank you and love you dearly!
Because of you 5th generation girl can now and forever fly freely!
Tammy Wynette is a mother of three and a “G-MA” (grandma). Born in Warren, Arkansas, she currently resides in Sacramento, CA and is pursuing an AA degree in English at American River College, with plans to transfer to California State University, Sacramento (Sac State). She is an active leader and role model in her community, she works with teens sharing and teaching poetry, as well as providing insight for young parents to prosper.
She has certificate from NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness) and is a trailblazer & Griot, keeper of stories/traditions passed down from her ancestors. As an Author and motivational speaker it’d be an honor to present at your events to inspire, encourage & let our VOICES be heard!
She has short stories and poems published in Our Black Mothers Brave, Bold and Beautiful!
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Thank you so much for the like. This has been challenging and still very new for me so I’m learning as I go.
I’d appreciate any general advice on blogging as well as helping build community if you have some to offer.
I really enjoyed reading your post.Your words are wonderful.I am pretty new myself.Started end of December. So my advice may or may not be very valid. What I do is primarily write for myself, if I receive likes great and if I don’t, I’m ok with it too…lol.I genuinely read lots of other blogs that I find interesting and like and comment on those. Eventually people will get to know you and your work and you will build organic community.Also, tagging is important, make sure your tags are relevant to your post.Best of luck to you, and if you have any other questions you can contact me at graceofthesun23@gmail.com.
Thank you so much. I write for therapy mainly & my G-son also suggested that I read other blogs, so that’s what I’ve been doing. My struggle is mainly with the technology, but the “blogging for dummies” (lol) is helping. I’m thinking I simply need to be patient. I was just reading some of your work and it is absolutely beautiful!!!
Thank you so much.Yes patience is absolutely necessary, especially in the beginning. It’s starts slow but will pick up before you know it.You’re an excellent writer with great material, as long as it gets seen, I am sure people will follow, that’s why tagging is so important.Try not to put too many tags so it gets higher priority but make them relevant(at least that’s what I do…lol). Hope this helps and I look forward to reading more of your work.❤️💕
You can check out a piece I wrote titled ‘MAITU AND HOW SHE STAYED SANE AFTER NYAKERU WRECKED THEIR WORLD HAVOC’, gives you a little infor about my community 😌
5thGenerationgirl 
❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much for the like. This has been challenging and still very new for me so I’m learning as I go.
I’d appreciate any general advice on blogging as well as helping build community if you have some to offer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed reading your post.Your words are wonderful.I am pretty new myself.Started end of December. So my advice may or may not be very valid. What I do is primarily write for myself, if I receive likes great and if I don’t, I’m ok with it too…lol.I genuinely read lots of other blogs that I find interesting and like and comment on those. Eventually people will get to know you and your work and you will build organic community.Also, tagging is important, make sure your tags are relevant to your post.Best of luck to you, and if you have any other questions you can contact me at graceofthesun23@gmail.com.
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Thank you so much. I write for therapy mainly & my G-son also suggested that I read other blogs, so that’s what I’ve been doing. My struggle is mainly with the technology, but the “blogging for dummies” (lol) is helping. I’m thinking I simply need to be patient. I was just reading some of your work and it is absolutely beautiful!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much.Yes patience is absolutely necessary, especially in the beginning. It’s starts slow but will pick up before you know it.You’re an excellent writer with great material, as long as it gets seen, I am sure people will follow, that’s why tagging is so important.Try not to put too many tags so it gets higher priority but make them relevant(at least that’s what I do…lol). Hope this helps and I look forward to reading more of your work.❤️💕
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Such a powerful piece, Tammy 🙂
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Chris, thank you. I appreciate your feedback.
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When you said during a time when couples stayed married I felt that. Relationships are not what they used to be. Very powerful words.
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Thank you King & thanks for the follow.
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Beautiful! Keep up the good workl
dwight
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Much appreciated!
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You are welcome!
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Well done. Great work!
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Tears, speechless. You have a team of great ancestors. Bless your maitu ( that’s what we call great grandmother). Powerful
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Thanks & what is your language because I’ll need to get a book to translate for me.
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I am from the Agikuyu community in Kenya, Kikuyu is the language 😌
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Ooh, ok thanks!
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You can check out a piece I wrote titled ‘MAITU AND HOW SHE STAYED SANE AFTER NYAKERU WRECKED THEIR WORLD HAVOC’, gives you a little infor about my community 😌
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I most certainly will! Let’s stay in touch.
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Beautiful poem!
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Thanks it was part of the inspiration to start this blog.
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Oh wow!
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