SHE WAS MY GRAN. ALSO KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS NANA! SHE WOULD LOVE AND LIVE TO SEE THE BIRTH AND ADULTHOOD OF HER GREAT, GREAT, GRAN CHILDREN. IF EVER YOU WERE TO VISIT THE SOUTHERN STATE & TOWN OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA, YOU’LL FIND A CLUSTERS OF HOLY GHOST FILLED, SHOUT AND PRAISE WORSHIP STONE CHURCHES, WITH HER LOVE, LEGEND, AND LEGACY, IMPRINTED ON THE BRICKS AND VERY PEWS THEMSELVES.
THE OLDER CONGREGANTS AND SOME OF THEIR DESCENDENTS WOULD REMEMBER NANA, AKA MOTHER ROBINSON. FROM THE 1930's DEPRESSION ERA TO THE 80'S BIRTH OF RAP, REAGONOMICS AND HIP-HOP. SHE SERVED ON A NUMBER OF MOTHERS AND DEACONS BOARD’S. HER SPECIALIZED SKILL SET WAS CHURCH FUNDRAISING! SHE WAS GIFTED WITH THE BLACK SOUTHERN CULINARY SKILLS, ACQUIRED THROUGH GENERATIONS OF BLOOD AND BONDAGE, OF THE SLAVE LABOR JIM CROW SOUTH.
THE PASTOR’S BOARD WOULD ISSUE SUMS TO NANA AS VARIED AS 50 CENTS TO $50.THE CURRENCY WAS DISPENSED ACCORDING TO THE ECONOMICS OF THOSE YEARS. SHE WOULD TAKE THE $ TO THE LOCAL MARKET’S & PURCHASE THE ITEMS SHE’D NEED TO MAKE THE MOST DELISH DISHES AND DESSERTS S.C. STYLE THE LIGHTEST, AIRY, BAKED, BATTERED, BARBECUED MEATS! FROM CHICKEN, PORK, FISH, BEEF, OXTAILS! WHATEVER MAN!
FROM CORNBREAD TO BAKED BREAD TO BISCUITS. AND OH THE VARIOUS GREENS! MUSTARD, COLLARDS AND GREEN BEANS. I COULD GO ON FOREVER WITH THE HONORABLE MENTION 'S OF STEWS, SOUPS SAUCES & SAVORRIES. I COULD GO ALL DAY AND THE FOLLOWING WEEK. BUT I’M GOING TO THROW IN SOME DESSERTS. OH THOSE COBBLERS OF BLUEBERRY, PEACH AND PRUNE, YUM!
SHE WOULD PREPARE THE FOOD SELL IT HERSELF OR LET CHURCH MEMBERS. HELP. THEY’D TAKE THE PROFITS FROM SALES, BUY MORE AND MAKE MORE FOOD, PROFITS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY IN NUMBER.
MY NANA AT THE WORST DAYS OF THE DEPRESSION COULD TAKE 30 CENTS OR $3.00 AND WITHIN THE WEEK GENERATE THIRTY TO THREE HUNDRED $$$ BY HERSELF! KNOW WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE BECAUSE THE HEADS OF THE CHURCH KEPT MOST OF THE LOOT, WE ESTIMATE OVER THAT 50 YEAR PERIOD SHE MUST HAVE RAISED FUND’S IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS RANGE IF NOT MORE! MY NANA WAS THE DOMESTIC HELP TO A WHITE FAMILY.
MY GRANDPA WAS A MESS HALL MERCHANT MARINE COOK AND AWAY 6 MTHS. OUTTA . A YEAR.
SHE HAD 9 CHILDREN AND MONEY WAS ALL WAYS HARD TO GET N MAKE ENDS MEET. SHE’D BE WRINGING HER LITTLE HANDS ALONE LATE AT NIGHT FRETTING HERSELF TO DEATH. .
To be cont’d........Thanks
CONT'D:
I'VE GOT ABOUT 3%POWER LEFT, AS I TRY TO FINISH THIS STORY! IN A NUTSHELL I LEARNED THE BASIC LESSONS OF ECONOMICS!!! IN MY NANA'S LITTLE WORRIED HANDS , SHE ALWAYS HAD THE POWER TO FINANCIALLY FIX HER CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT OF HER CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY. HER CULINARY SKILLS GARNERED OVER GENERATIONS OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND HARD BITTER BONDAGE, GAVE HER ALL THE ECONOMICAL POWER IN THE WORLD !!! BUT UNFORTUNATELY LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, INCLUDING OURSELVES SOMETIMES, SHE DID NOT ACTUALLY REALIZE IT... BUT THANK GOD WE DO NOW! WHAT'S IN OUR HANDS TODAY, BROTHER'S AND SISTERS THAT IS NOT BEING REALIZED???