Are Black Family Reunions Declining?

We carry on: Black family reunions in a time of erasure – The Bay State Banner

They try to erase us. Again. Erase the stories, the elders, the recipes handed down on index cards stained with soul. Erase the baby with thick curls chasing cousins through the grass. Erase the uncle who grills with one hand and carries history in the other.

Are Black Family Reunions declining?

The Hicks family recently held their family reunion, but organizers say it’s a struggle to keep the reunions going. Credit: John Smith A post recently went viral claiming that Black family reunions have declined by 47% since 1997. The number sparked debate and reflection across the internet. Many blamed the passing of elders, the disinterest of younger generations and the growing difficulty of organizing large-scale gatherings. But there’s just …

The Legacy of Black Family Reunions and Why We Must Keep Them Alive - Because of Them We Can

July is Black Family Month, and with it comes one of our most cherished traditions: the family reunion. While it may feel like reunions have slowed in some areas, across the country, many families are still gathering, laughing, dancing, and passing on history—and we need to keep that going. Family reunions have deep roots in Black history. After slavery, many newly freed people searched for lost relatives through newspaper ads, letters, and word…