Making Sense of the Past

It has been said that America is a past-hating nation. As far as I'm concerned, this is a fact. Serious consideration of the past is simply incompatible with capitalism. The best that this economic system can allow is the commoditization of the past, that is, making the past into products for consumption. Actually, this is better than no consideration of the past at all, yet looking at the past in the form of products (e.g. movies) must coincide with serious discussion of the past represented in products, as well as the ways that products reconstruct (rebuild and reframe) the past. Movies, for instance, cannot hope really to convey history in its fullness; neither can books, documentaries, etc. All media brought to bear, however, might approximate at least a degree of seriousness.

In any case, constructing or reconstructing the past should not be left to Hollywood executives. It is not the business solely of these persons, or of book editors, or even of writers and artists. We who live in the present must add our two cents, add, that is, our "sense" of the past, which includes perhaps three things: one, what knowledge we have gleaned from study; two, folk knowledge (stories that have been handed down to us); and, three, our more sensitive ways of knowing. This blog is specifically about this last source of knowledge. Let me provide an example of what I mean. (This example comes from my experiences doing family history research.)

About two years ago, I met with an elderly woman who lives near the area where my father spent the first thirteen years of his life. The woman, ninety-six years old at the time, is not directly related to my family but knew of them. According to her, everyone knew them. They were "famous," she said. As a researcher, I tried as best I could to keep with a line of questioning, asking specific questions about my ancestors and about what life was like in Mississippi in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This informant did answer these questions, but she also turned the tables on me. She seemed to have an agenda of her own. In fact, she began questioning me. She wanted to know what my profession was. Before even asking this however she stated at least two, maybe three times, "I see you're well equipped." Honestly, I was being a poor researcher that day, for every time she said that, I pretty much ignored the statement though it was unnerving me some. When I finally told her that I was a professor, she smiled and said, "Ha! I knew it. You thought you were going to depth me; I depthed you!"

I have been thinking about this meeting for two years now. Sometimes it takes that long for me to make sense of what I've experienced in interviewing someone, or what that person was really trying to say. For me, interpretation requires patience, and it involves sometimes placing statements on a higher--spiritual--plane. Make no mistake, I believe that my interviewee that day served as a medium for delivery of specific messages for me. To clarify, I am saying, yes, that I believe that messages from a spiritual plane can be delivered, yes, by people who cross our paths on a physical plane. Perhaps anyone can deliver a message, but I tend to believe that some people are more able to do so than others. If you are very spiritually oriented or a kindred spirit of the person on the receiving end, then you are probably a good candidate for mediumship! Anyway, the main message that this interviewee delivered to me was simple. I think it was merely an affirmation concerning my work, its timing, and my ability to complete it.

She also, however, had a few other things to say including this statement: "White folks and n-----s too gon' always get they liquor"! This piece of, shall we call it wisdom, is chock full. Wouldn't you agree? The statement seemed actually somewhat out of context though. That is to say, I do not recall it being offered in relationship to anything else that we had been talking about other than my family's "fame." So, how did I make sense of this statement? Well, this is where I use closer analysis. And I also have to admit, this is where my time spent in the South and my tendency to gravitate toward my elders come in handy. Elders won't always state things directly; they tend to meander, talking about a number of subjects before they answer a question. In this case however I think that my informant wanted to talk about what was at least one source of my family's fame without speaking directly about it and without being judgmental. She never said, "You know. Your family bootlegged." As an older Southern woman, African American, and a former teacher, she would not have been so blunt.

What do I do with this last statement about white folks and n-----s who will always drink? Why did she want me to know this? Why was this an important point for her to make sure I received. And to what extent was this information something that she personally desired to tell me and to what extent was she, again, helping bring forth a message from the universe? Let's assume the latter. That is, let us assume that she was simply delivering a message from the universe. How might I then interpret the message?

I'll let you all chew on that. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and of course I have my own, which I am more than willing to share. Let me leave you with this: we all receive messages. I believe this more and more with each passing day. (No people, I am not saying that I hear voices! If that thought is coming to mind, go back and reread this blog.) The question is simply what is required so that we can better hear, better see, and better sense what the universe may be saying to you and to me.

Talk to me!
A.W.M.