In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens
It's May and Mother's Day. For our mothers we give gifts of flowers and plants because it's May. The perfect time to start a garden. Alice Walker's essay and book entitled In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens touched on the subject of gardens as the source of our mothers', grandmothers', and great grandmothers' creativity. Restricted due to their societal roles, the garden was the one place they could be expressive and explore their artistic nature without question. After living a year under the pandemic, many of us have embraced gardens as a way to feel sane while under public health restrictions due to the pandemic. Unlike our great grandmothers, we have choices on how we exert our free time that they did not have. Alice Walker's essay spoke of the plight of American black women particularly those from the south who were forced to bake biscuits instead of carving statues their spirit craved to do. Yet, there is a universal theme in that essay that rings true still. The restrictiveness of the traditional societal role posed on women. A role that restricted them from being the artists their inner spirits wanted to be. Some women in parts of our world still live under those types of restrictions. Yet, here in 2021, we can do what our grandmothers were not allowed to do. We can be artists, if we choose, and express ourselves in any medium, any discipline we desire. Their struggles gave us that gift. Gave us that garden to nurture and pass on to the next generation of young women. Thereby enabling them to be whatever they desire with dignity and pride because generations of mothers (women) willed it so. Thank you, mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers for surviving your struggle so that we can grow our gardens.
– Toni Thomas
Art and Artists
An Artist's Statement
By Lebrashawn Turman Chase
When I first decided to venture and take the step to turn my short story (inspired by the memory of my grandmother) into an actual children’s book, it was after researching the steps it took to be picked up by a traditional publishing company. I remember feeling, overwhelmed, intimidated, and most of all discouraged. It seemed almost impossible to break into this complex industry. I felt powerless. I remember thinking how could someone like me, who didn’t know much about the writer’s world (I knew a few writers and poets) and who was not very confident, approach a publisher with a query letter- It was down right scary! I convinced myself that I should just let it go because I wasn’t ready and quite frankly wasn’t good enough. It was something that I tucked away. I chose not to pay attention to my spirit quietly whispering to me its desire and its urge to create words on paper.
Several years passed and I stumbled upon the bold idea that I can create and publish my books on my own. Something about that appealed to me. It meant I was in the pilot seat. I chose my book. I hired my illustrator. I had the power to choose the direction of my book. For the first time, I felt good about being published. I didn’t have to worry about anyone telling me no or telling me to change the direction of my story. I had complete autonomy.
I published my first children’s book and then my second. I even went on to publish a book of poetry. However that’s where it stopped. The satisfaction of just publishing my books was enough- at least that’s what I convinced myself. The problem was I didn’t dream past that; I didn’t allow myself to. I convinced myself that I was good with that. The truth was that even though I had the courage to self publish, I didn’t have the courage or self confidence to put myself out there on a wider scale. I didn’t have the courage to truly own my hidden buried truth- that writing books and being successful at it meant and means more to me than I realized. I didn’t have the courage to face a traditional publisher’s no. And even though there is satisfaction in publishing my own books, there’s something exciting about the thought of joining the great artist who were traditionally published and who made their life being known as a writer.
And even as I write this I can feel the butterflies release from my stomach and flutter through my arms and out of my hands. The mere act of admitting the truth to myself is my first act of courage because I never truly admitted it out loud. (which is the healing power of writing). I was asked to write about the courage it took for me to write and self publish my books, but in actuality, for me, that part didn’t take courage, that part was easy. Where my courage lies is in me having the confidence and faith to step into what I fear and that is owning and embracing that I am a writing artist and my dreams are bigger than I ever allowed myself to dream. I am thankful for all the people in my life who have helped to shape me and support me.
A Poem
My courage is in my words that lay open fresh for ears to take in
For Eyes to visualize the depths of my vulnerability and
For Souls to feel my intention for the world to be more of itself and
For people to be free and to have the courage to create authentic possibilities
For themselves.
– Lebra
