After I had half the office walk past my desk and giggle to see me point to a white General as my Great, Great Grandfather. I thought the timing was right to delve into my roots.
Being a very inquisitive child, Anytime the picture box was brought out, I wanted to know about every one in the pictures, Their names was not enough for me. I wanted more than this is Uncle ... I wanted to know what he did, and what history he left.
Once, when I was going through the picture box, I came across a well-dressed elderly bi-racial man. He stood out amongst all the pictures in the box. I asked, "who is this?" and I was told that is Grandpa. And I said but he is "white" and the answer was "yes" (Duh! can't you tell from his looks). Unfortunately that was about all I knew of the grand-pa.
Years later, I came to face the same question, and this time the question was what would send me on an emotional roller coaster. It was September 10th, 1991 at 11am to be precise, and I was just recovering from the general anesthesia I had received during my child's birth. I was just glad to be awake and hear a baby cry, and this time around, the cry sounded like healthy baby.
I was wondering why my spouse did have the puzzled look. It was no regular look, it was more of the look like I had just delivered an alien. I inquired, what the matter was, And he said "its the Baby” My heart just sunk, the reason is, less than a year ago, I had a healthy son who died ten days later of a blood disorder. I was hoping my new baby did not have the same disorder. I asked what was wrong with the baby. He said "The baby looks white”. Well Then!!! this is the best time to use labour pains language. but no!! My Mama raised me well. I did the modest thing, used the little strength I had and rolled my eyes and kissed my teeth and said "Okay" and went back to bed.
Few weeks later, His friends were over to visit the new baby, and I overheard His friends comment on how the baby had no resemblance to his Father, and also believed the baby had a white Dad. I was even more devastated when I overheard my son's Dad reply by saying. "Only Mother's Know”. This did not end there, It went on for years until several years later, when a cousin of mine mentioned to the Father that, if he had any doubts, She will pay for a DNA test. ( And of course, that means litigation will follow) Even though it kept him quiet, I knew in his mind he still has his doubts.
