I’ve owned the book “Black: A Celebration of a Culture” by Deborah Willis for 7-8 years. It’s a book full of pictures celebrating black history and culture which sits on a table in my home for my guests to flip through. My uncle Kwasi happens to own the same book and recently pointed out to me that a photo of my grandmother (second from left) and her gospel choir is in the book!

My grandmother Robbie Ozan has lived on North Kerby Avenue my whole life and although I know there was life for her prior to Portland that knowledge didn’t hit home until I saw this photo.

The photo was taken in July of 1944 in Washington DC and currently resides in the National Museum of American History in the Smithsonian Institution. As we approach Mother’s day I am grateful for my grandmother because the decisions that she made lead to my existence. Not only that but she helped to raise me and develop me into the man I am today. My grandmother has been without her hearing for nearly 30 years now, she has always loved music and I catch her humming from time to time.  I now wonder if it’s her gospel hymns she hums.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers of the world.