"Reflections" from the Family
By Beverly King (1993)
To the family members of this great family. We, the Detroit Chapter of the Hansie-Solomon
reunion organization greet you with love, in the name of Jesus. As we come together on this
20th celebration, we want you to reflect on some of the daily use of items and activities in a
routine day. Most of our homes were based on God and a family Bible was always there with
records of important events and occasions within our family such as births, deaths and
marriages.
A usual day would begin around four o'clock in the morning, with everyone up and "mama"
would prepare breakfast, usually consisting of biscuits, salt pork, syrup and grits, maybe eggs.
Our young family members went to the spring or to the well for water, that was used with a
dipper from the family pail. Some went out to take the cows to pasture, and to feed the
chickens and tend to other animals on the farm.
A day's work was almost completed by the time the children were ready for school, which was
usually a one-room school building with several grades. School lunches were usually a syrup
can with biscuits, salt pork and syrup. Reflect back with us on our colorful clothing, the
humbleness that was usually exhibited in our daily lives. Everyone spoke to each other and we
respected our elders.
Reflect again on some of the entertainment we enjoyed, the singing, reading poems, and
dancing, even telling great stories in the evening. We take great pride in our parents and our
forefathers who took the time and sought to draw us together again, and to tighten the bonds
of unity between us.
We take pride in our young businessmen and entrepreneurs as they serve us and others in
the community. We are proud of our Scholarship Committee and the things they have done for
our youth. We love you "family members" for taking the time to organize and make known to
us, the family, the feeling of pride within ourselves and to be willing to challenge our lives
today and its many opportunities.
As we walk down "memory lane" this weekend, let us try and feel their feelings of love, life and
power. Many have left the red hills of Georgia, and other places in the South, but let us thank
God for their humble beginnings, because we could not be today what we are, if it had not
been for them. So lets take part in this weekend, planned to commemorate "Black Heritage,"
as we take a stroll down Memory Lane.
Beverly C. King The Detroit Chapter (1993)