Chapter 12: The Legacy of Greatness

A legacy is something of value that is handed down from one generation to the next. As an African American, the legacy of my ancestors was storytelling. A legacy can be seen as values, rituals, and celebrations that a parent passes down to their children. Greatness can be defined as a comparatively higher degree, power or intensity. So, the phrase “the legacy of greatness” can be characterized as the importance of the stories of our ancestors that live inside of each of us.

I have experienced trauma since the day I was born. During my mother’s second trimester, the doctor encouraged her to have an abortion. He explained that if both of us lived through childbirth, I would have an I.Q. of about 70, would never grow past 4’7,” or be able to walk. However, my mother had faith! She exclaimed, “This is my legacy, and she will be a legacy of greatness! My mother had Lupus, and my birth caused her to develop kidney failure, and during the course of my life, I witnessed her illness take her down a dark road.