Imagine being born in Columbus County, North Carolina, a slave, bound by chains from birth. Who am I in this story? Am I Thomas S. Pridgen, or Hannah J. Hobbs? These were the questions that haunted their nights. Were they born out of love, or were their parents sold like livestock? Were they mere property, like horses bred to plow the fields? What did they believe their purpose in the world was? Did they have dreams for their children's futures, or were those dreams crushed by the slave master who saw them as nothing more than assets to be bred?
Slavery began in the 1600s, and my great-great-grandparents were born into it in the 1800s. How many beatings did our ancestors endure to break their spirits and ours? How many ancestors were hung to instill fear and compliance? How many families were torn apart, mismatched like patches on a quilt, stripped of their heritage and identity? How many generations faced such horrors, leading our ancestors to stop dreaming and give up hope?
Our heritage is a tapestry woven with pain and resilience. Why do we carry European blood? Was it a result of our grandmothers' rape? Are we heirs to something lost and forgotten, or living testaments to the resilience and strength of our forefathers? Why do our ancestors' birth certificates resemble bills of sale, listing them as property, or merely names on a plantation ledger?
Hello family, I'm an heir to Thomas Pridgen and Hannah J. Hobbs. I often wonder what they felt, how they survived the daily struggles of bondage. When I look at family trees of white people—sorry, the colonizers—I see pictures, birth dates, and detailed accounts of death. Their history is meticulously documented, showcasing marriages, meetings, and life events with minimal gaps. Their family trees are rich with pride and continuity. Ours is a mystery, a collection of missing pieces, with no pictures, no ownership, only gaps that leave us wondering who we are.
Our identity is often dictated by how society expects Black people to behave. We aren't supposed to be angry, to protest, or to fight for justice. We are only supposed to follow.
Family, I pose this question to you: Who do you think you are? Do you believe you are truly free? Are you tired of asking questions and never receiving answers? Have over 400 years of oppression broken us as well? Have we lost the desire to seek our true identity and purpose? Despite the brutal separation of families, our forefathers never gave up. Hangings and lynchings didn't discourage them; they always aspired to have more.
In 2024, we have achieved milestones our ancestors could never have imagined. They never envisioned a future where we would be free, with the freedom to choose where to live and the opportunity to be anything we desire.
Are you willing to do whatever it takes to correct the past and set an example, leaving a roadmap for future generations of the Pridgen family? You might be wondering how you can contribute. Here's what we need to do: we can unite to ensure every single person in our family is accurately documented. This includes recording information about mothers, fathers, and children, as well as their birthdays and deaths. By doing this, we can create a comprehensive and accurate family history for the Pridgen family.
In every family, there is division, but division shouldn't silence anyone's voice. Family reunions and heritage are only significant if they matter to you. This isn't a group decision; it's an independent choice we each must make. Let's take the necessary steps to ensure our history is preserved and celebrated for generations to come.
Remember, who are we, and what roadmap do we leave for future Pridgen generations?
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