#35 BLACK FAMILY REUNIONS

America has experienced a phenomenal interest and growth in family reunions. In the African American community that interest literally has become explosive and revolutionary. It is explosive in that the dynamics of discovery make history a living reality. It is revolutionary in that the feeling of isolation and having no significance is replaced by group life and meaning of historical and personal relationships. Reunions are the by-product of the growing phenomenon in the study and practice of genealogy. Today genealogy is the leading hobby in America.

Great credit must be attributed to Alex Haley’s book, ROOTS: THE SAGA OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY, published in 1976. (“If Alex Haley can be called the Father of Family Reunions, Dr. Ione D. Vargus can be called the Mother of Family Reunions.”) (See blog/posting #22) It raised the conscious level of black families regarding their origin and descent; it reversed the “funeral” as the occasion for family gathering to a “family reunion” as the central focus of group renewal and the black family has not been the same since.

Slavery threw a “monkey wrench” into black genealogy by treating the enslaved as property and not as humans. It disrupted the role of the family and its value structure. It supervised the loss of black group life, personal identity and important records essential to the black experience. (i.e. the results of being uprooted from the homeland “Africa,” being the victim of inhumane activities and witnessing Jim Crow-ism as a key way of life.)

Since emancipation, African Americans have attempted to reconstitute their family structures. Even today, black families are reaching back to their heritage to ensure that the crucial function of the family is revived, group and personal identity is regained, racial contribution and pride are restored and group potential is realized.

In your “nuts and bolts” session, you will learn about the specifics of having a family reunion, like:

Getting organized, money and finances, communication, food, children’s interest, making history, finding people, etc.
which Barbara Brown outlines in her book, FAMILY REUNION HAND BOOK, published by Reunion Research in 1992.

But my purpose is to focus on the broad scope and benefits of a reunion today.
Looking at the constant growth pattern of reunions, one quickly asks…why? What is the root cause? What is the definition of a family reunion? What is the program agenda?

Let us look at a definition first. A family reunion is the planning and execution of a gathering of collateral relatives and friends for the express purpose of renewing kinship ties and social acquaintances for information, fellowship and support, and to crystallize those relationships into cultural and spiritual bonds.

The agenda of family reunions runs the gamut of activities which may be structured or unstructured, formal or informal. The gamut runs from a presentation of family history to a dance; from a credit union report to stardom entertainment on a boat ride; from a worship service to a banquet; from a flea market pavilion approach to picnicking in the park.

Please note, that the African American family reunion is “more than a picnic.” It is serious business; it is organizational life at work; it is history in review; it is economics under consideration; it is an educational process in continuum; it is fellowship abounding; it is spirituality upon us. When a family programs beyond the “picnic,” liberating meaningful program activities and action plans come into focus. The search for meaning, the significance of family membership and the development of a support system are all part and parcel of the equation for reunion programming.

Family reunions should support five functions: a rediscovery of family history; the development of a support system; the rites of affirmation, projection and celebration.

The effect of a system of slavery was the destruction of black family history. A reunion is a means by which family history is rediscovered. It allows kinsmen to experience the emotions of that history and to vicariously live the lives of their ancestors, gaining an understanding of the struggle behind their achievements. Updated history lends support to the appreciation of history even before the enslaved period. Reunion then is a tool by which we educate.

Family history is the story of your ancestors but can also include living relatives. It should give factual accounts of family chronology. This is where you get the benefits of attending a Workshop, Seminar or a course in genealogy.

Speaking of family chronology, my family history informs me that my great-grandparents, Richard and Minerva Herron constituted the first known structured Herron family of African American decent in the Piedmont region of this tar heel state in 1870. That’s family history!!!

A good “griot” (pronounced GREE’OS} helps to make the above possible. According to the venerable Charles L. Blockson, “ in Africa, each family had a griot or an archivist who committed the family’s entire history to memory. Each griot in preparation for death, would hand over his entire log of historical stories to a younger man who became the new historian. In this way, a family could always trace its history back hundreds of years.

Recently, I observed ten family reunions. Eight of those reunions spent 95% of their program agenda time in socialization and only 5% in study of their history. Two families used 25% of their program agenda time looking at their historic perspective.

The development of a support system means the empowerment/enablement is directed toward the development and strengthening of family members. Please note that empowerment may be moral, psychological and/or financial.
With support, they move from being the objects of charity to become the subjects of charity. Reunions ensure that the support/empowerment role is revived.


Affirmation means to validate and to state positively; to assert as valid or confirmed. Affirmation takes place when the questions of identity, purpose and destiny are raised and resolved. Three questions answered will help us to confirm affirmation.

Question one, who am I? This is a question of identity. Answer. I am Sam Joe’s great grandchild who blazed freedom’s trail and died for voting rights in Mississippi. I am the Black but beautiful child of the Rose of Sharon as portrayed in Solomon 1:5. History gives me identification.

Question two, why am I here? This is purpose. Answer. I am here to reach self potential and to make a difference in my community, the nation and the world.

Question three, where am I going? This is a question of destiny. Answer. I am in pursuit of efforts which improve self, the race, the nation and the world.

Family reunions give us affirmation but it also gives projection which is planning for the future in light of value questions. Reunions enhance the role of transmitting value. This can be done through education, economics, occupation and dedication. Through a Family Association, a scholarship fund is established; a credit union is established; guidance is given in career choices; and commitments are made toward economic development. This is family helping family in the transmitting of values for growth and development.

Even though reunions are more than a picnic, one must admit that picnicking is a part of celebration, so is worship. We celebrate by performing publicly with appropriate rites or to honor and demonstrate satisfaction in observing a notable occasion.

The rediscovery of family history, the development of a support system, affirmation and projection form the basis for celebration. The latter follows the former.

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A RELATED ANNOUNCEMENT THE COMPREHENSIVE GENEALOGICAL SERVICES (CGS) WILL BE OFFERING:

FAMILY REUNION WORKSHOP/LUNCHEON

SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER, 8:30-3 P.M.

FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

3400 BEATTIES FORD ROAD- CHARLOTTE, NC

CONFERENCE ROOM A

Please visit http://www.cgsweb.org for more information.