The Day That Our Family Got Together

What Could Family Be?

By Talut

Answering this question is mind-boggling until imagination kicks in. For decades, we’ve asked the question, but in different ways. Some of us remain silent, others are overt, but we still wonder. Between the northern and southern states, our roots are firmly established. As we grow as a family, the question continues to live on. Today, our numbers are huge regardless of our points of view. Unorganized, torn apart, firmly rooted, and the question remains. As children, we’ve heard bits and pieces of the family story, some bring a sense of pride, while others hang our heads meaning we’ve taken the bitter with the sweet. 

Who are we? Yes, at the top of the family, I’ve heard a lot about us, but also I was interested in the family story and asked a lot of questions. As a child, I saw a lot and was told a lot by my mother, Emma Mae, and our aunts Johniece and Fannie. Also, Granddaddy would take me around with him, I would see him operate his business, and from that, I learned the family spirit. I saw his compassion, empathy, and kindness as he related to others. He was easygoing. Grandma died while feeding my sister Velvelon and me Jello. We were no more than 3 and 4 years old, but I still remember, foggily, the event. I was always proud of our elders, they were special to me, and I captured their energy. I heard their jokes, laughter, and stories, as well as, their sadness, crying, and pain.

I’ve never known a family so evenly divided as are we. Half of us live in the northern states and the other half in the southern states. The interstate sign in Chicago, that points to the direction of Memphis, Tennessee gives a sense that we’re not far away. It also reminds us of our origin, that powerful city in the south. Half of Granddaddy’s and Grandmama’s children migrated to the north (Chicago) and the other half stayed in the south (Memphis). Those who migrated north were searching for a better life and greater opportunities.

Aunt Georgia got married and worked a factory job, but her brothers Eugene, Fred, Leon and later Otis embarked upon their inherited entrepreneurial spirit. I used the word “inherited” because I know exactly how we’re affected by this deep “business spirit”. Onie Gale, our granddad (2nd generation) and Josh Mhoon, our grandma’s father were both entrepreneurs. Josh Mhoon and his brother purchased Mhoon Landing (Google) in the 1800’s. Daddy Onie, as his Memphis Grandchildren grew to call him, took up many services including share-cropping, land-clearing, insurance agent, real estate, undertaker, etc., and he was a well-respected man.

What happened to our family that tore us apart to the point of near no return? Onie and Estella Gale had 4 daughters and 5 sons. After Grandma’s death, Granddaddy had 2 additional sons. Our cousin, Sherman Greer has nearly completed an extensive family tree and history of each Mhoon branch. After decades of pondering, my siblings and I concluded that, because of those who had and those who didn’t, a conflict occurred between members of the same family. This conflict i like a disease, senselessly affected the next generation, but we’re not going to accept their problems as our own. We’re cousins and family, what the past among them was about isn’t about us.

This year’s 4th of July family get-together was a celebration, a victory, and a family success. Everybody came through on the things that were needed to make our 1st family get-together successful. We had plenty of food, singing, and dancing, and we played our 1st championship game of spade as a family, between Chicago and Memphis. We’ll let Chicago tell you who won and is the 2024 Champion ; no I’ll tell you now………. Memphis is the 2024 Spade Champion.

We took our 1st Tunica, Mississippi, and Mhoon Landing tour, it was both exciting and historic. We didn’t get a chance to visit the cemetery where our grandparents are buried, but the next time we’ll make that happen. Londale visited the National Civil Rights Museum, where Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. stayed and was assassinated and he visited Mason Temple where Dr. King gave his final and ultimate speech. As one of the seniors, I had to walk away from the crowd, because I was becoming overwhelmed with joy. I never thought that I would see my cousins and family together hugging and sharing love of each other.

WE MUST DO THIS AGAIN, BUT BIGGER AND BETTER!