This past weekend I had the absolutely great experience of the annual Rockrun Family Reunion. The journey from Atlanta meant I visited 5 states in 3 days, taking me through the more historic areas of the South. This provides the backdrop for the weekend's cultural sojourn.
This trip is centred around my friend Susan's family - The Sheltons!
Rockrun Virginia is small town that even the residents would call 'country'. Dotted across its landscape are small houses on large plots of former plantation land which are the historic homes of four generations of powerful people who continue to demonstrate to their children that they come from a rich history - FAMILY!
Rumour has it that African Americans lack two main things: a culture and family cohesion. To believe that would make you truly incorrect. What I experienced in Rockrun has left me feeling the same sense of hope that comes from the rise of a people determined to thrive from their simple country roots.
Tucked in a middle of a state park we listened to classic R&B, ate fillet of Whiting (my personal favourite), corn on the cob, pork chops, cole slaw, potato salad, souce, Rockrun hotdogs, ribs, broccoli casserole, and sweet tea!
I met elders and young adults, some whom traveled from as far as Maryland, to be at the reunion of Rockrun. I watched high school chums reunite, high school sweet-hearts, former teammates, high school rivals all come together to add to the foundation that brings them back year after year.
What these families have established for themselves and their children seems so simple. Maybe because Rockrun is a small town, they grew and expanded as a community that seemingly has managed to do what some observers would claim to be challenging for the black family - maintain a sense of family and community against the odds of other competing forces. Not just families live in Rockrun, successful black families.
Success is a judgment based on an expectation that is not always fair. By whatever means success can be measured, Rockrun is a successful community. I'm sure a few more days would have allowed me a chance to see more than the pretty side. That exists in Rockrun too. I am measuring this community's success by the sights and sounds I experienced this weekend. The adults I met, many of whom attended the dozens of colleges and universities in the area - Winston Salem State, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Tech, John C. Smith, Virginia State, and UNC Greensboro or Charlotte to name a few, have carried Rockrun in their hearts to other ventures that have taken them away. 3 generations of college/university educations! At a time when America is seeking to reform education, pretty impressive.
The children of the children of the children have done well, and on this weekend next year, they will be back again to share their lives with each other. They will bring their children who will continue to bring their children.
In the end, Rockrun is home! Rockrun is where they return every year to reconnect and ground themselves is life's simple overstandings - nothing after all is more important than family, friends and overstanding of where and what you come from. They are from Rockrun and they aint never running away from that!
Big up to The Sheltons! Thank you for being so welcoming such that I could experience a small part of the rich diversity that IS African-American culture. More importantly, too me, it's strong and something to truly be proud of!
"Be With What Is"
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