adrienne-is » history

who do you think you are

adrienne — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:07:31 +0000

My maternal grandfather - Sam Wilson

My maternal grandfather Sam was always said to be the son of an unknown white man and a black mother, by the name of Minerva. He had bluish-gray eyes, a much fairer complexion than my own and was pure eye-candy for the ladies in his prime. Because my parents were in the military I didn’t get to spend a whole lot of time with my grandpa before he passed away in 96′. I remember a handful of trips to visit him in California when I lived there for a moment, but sadly the memories are vague and I never had the opportunity to speak with him about his life. I do remember the smell of his apartment.

After watching a few episodes of the NBC TV program, Who Do You Think You Are, I decided to take action so that I could possibly know more about my grandfather’s father. By all verbal accounts within the family, his father is white and never stuck around to live happily ever after with his mother Minerva, because that wasn’t the type of thing whites and blacks did back in those glorious days. Well, I recently obtained his birth certificate from the Mississippi State Department of Health. Although I have always been most curious about my African Ancestry, I just knew my grandfather’s birth certificate would be the gateway for the 1/8th white ancestry in me. Did his birth certificate reveal what I had hoped or thought it would? Not exactly. The named listed is a Tom Wilson. This Tom Wilson as noted by the midwife, Julia Gaskin is a black man born in Mississippi and a R.R. section hand. Huh?! When I told my mother the news she immediately discounted it and said the midwife probably could not say that it was a white man because of how things were in the early 1920′s in the American South.

My grandfather - Sam Wilson

This new information has already sent me in a new direction. I immediately placed the details on my online Ancestry family tree. However, I am still as skeptic as my mother. How can all the oral accounts be wrong? Why would the midwife lie? Could his father have been a black man with a fair complexion as well? Who is Tom Wilson? Whether he is a black man or white man, I am very interested in learning more.

Now, if I could just throw a tiny wish into the universe. I’ve been entering the Ultimate Family History Journey sweepstakes on Ancestry.com and I can’t say that I don’t really want to be randomly selected for this one. What discoveries could be made – boy! For now, I’ll keeping looking for this Tom Wilson and wait for my grandmother’s birth certificate to arrive from Mississippi as well. Also, I’ll keep watching the show. Thus far I’ve found Emmitt Smith’s tale and Sarah Jessica Parker’s to be most fascinating, but all of them are real gems. Can’t wait to see Spike Lee, of course.

Is anyone else out there joining in on this wonderful family television viewing? Have past family discoveries completely altered who you think you are/were? Have you jump started your family tree recently?

The Great Big Outdoor Museum: Rome

adrienne — Sat, 02 May 2009 02:31:24 +0000

I’ve been pondering about the perfect intro to my Roma excursion, but truth be told I haven’t one. In fact, I’m a wee-bit overwhelmed. What hasn’t already been said about Rome that I could possibly tune you into other than my own personal experiences? I’m not about to recount tons of history or label each picture taken this go round. Many of the landmarks should be recognizable to most and after a while one crumbling column looks like all the rest. There is so much to absorb in the very streets of Rome. I could spend a week walking every corner outdoors before entering a building or museum. From the Colosseum to the beautiful fountains scattered all across the city center the shutter-happy finger never tires. I take that back. My finger did get a little tired. I’m learning more about my travel interests and that I’m more interested in human interaction than analyzing ruins. I’m also a bit more geeked out about nature and physical activity. The great thing about Rome is that it has a little something for everyone, so I got my fix one way or the other.

For now, the great show outdoors. This gallery contains shots from the Colosseum, Palatine, the Roman Forum, fountains near the Pantheon and more. Take a gander and watch out for more text and captions in the coming days.

**All photos taken by Adrienne C. Wilson except where pictured. Please do not use without seeking permission.**

Homage to Malcolm X

adrienne — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 14:25:30 +0000

“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time. – Malcolm X”

I learned about Malcolm X right around the same time I watched Lynn Whitfield dance around in a banana skirt and bare skin in the Josephine Baker Story. Should I have even mentioned the two in the same sentence? That I’m not sure, but I’m telling you the facts as they are. I was a little girl at the time; ten years old to be exact. The film Malcolm X had just hit the scene thanks to Spike Lee and starred no other than Denzel Washington as the controversial Black Nationalist leader. Of all the scenes my 10 year-old memory somehow managed to latch in on and remember remarkably clear probably aren’t the greatest examples to refer to when talking about such a historical figure, but I’ll reveal them to you anyway: the first is the scene where Malcolm X is getting his hair permed, the second is the trip to Mecca and the last being the repeated attempts to extinguish Malcolm’s existence.

Fourteen years later and only a tiny bit wiser, I realize I really don’t know much about the man. Granted there is only so much the mind can retain, I often find it funny what we retain and why it needed to stay planted in the brain. At the time remembering that Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebraska was unimportant, but I have recently rediscovered this information. Having been like glue in my hotel room I decided to take a break from my work to flip through the Omaha Visitors Guide when I saw the short piece on the Malcolm X Birthsite. Thinking no one I knew could be from Omaha, I was in slight disbelief. I let my silly thoughts pass and decided to take advantage of the situation. I wanted to relearn many things about Malcolm X and I wanted to pay homage.

I dialed the number for the Malcolm X Foundation located right there in Omaha, Nebraska and inquired about the site. What was there to see? What was there to experience? After speaking with Sharif I was told to phone Marshall Taylor to arrange a time to see the marker. Marshall seemed more than glad to show me around on Friday morning and Friday morning he showed me around.

My tour began at the African American Bookstore in Omaha. Marshall gave me a warm welcome and handed me Malcolm X, the book as written by Alex Haley. Having heard my cry earlier to be enlightened he gave me one of the best gifts of all. Along with the book he provided me with some information on the organization and the founder Rowena Moore. It had been a dream of Ms. Moore’s to construct a major educational and cultural institution at the birth home of Malcolm X in Omaha, NE. Although Malcolm’s family only lived in the Omaha area until he was about 4 years-old, Moore was inspired by speeches she heard on the radio from Malcolm and after Malcolm’s return from his trip to Mecca she decided to begin an organization.

Once I finished learning about the foundation and their plans to build a Learning Center in addition to the memorial at 3448 Pinkney Street, it was time to go see the site. Marshall took me around to a fenced in area of green space. The area is closed off to prevent people from dumping as it used to be a major dump site. This is the main reason you can’t walk up to the memorial freely, but once the museum, library, amphitheater and all else is complete the fence will come down and it shall be open to the public. (Hopefully all will be done in another two years.)

In the meantime there are several ways to get involved if one feels inclined to do so. The first is to become a major contributor or “sustaining member.” (Donating on a monthly or annual basis.) The other is through the donor brick program. A donation of $100 bucks allows you to contribute to the project and have a small part of history in the making. The bricks are 4″x8″, clay and have three 20 space lines to accommodate a custom-engraved individualized statement. Additionally, donors will receive a mini replica of the brick with a map showing location of the piece. Pretty nice, if you’re into history and being apart of a good cause.

If anything I encourage any with an interest in Mister Malcolm’s life to visit this birthsite today and in the future, when there should be a whole lot more to check out. Omaha may not be on your travel radar anytime soon – understood and if so visit the website: www.malcolmxfoundation.org for coming information. Another great resource for learning about Malcolm X is also this official Malcolm X website.

Now I have to get started reading this book and refreshing the mind of anything else it may have forgotten.

Signs mark the way to the historical site.

Bright sun rays shine down on the Malcolm X site.

Standing in front of the historical marker.

The area still has much work to be done, but I am hopeful it will happen and in the very near future.

Malcolm’s place. 3448 Pinkney Street, Omaha, NE.

Peace,
Adrienne