Hey Hyphens!

Can you believe it’s Fall already? I swear the older I get, the faster time flies. And as time passes I find myself becoming more self-reflective. Spending more time pondering on my family and our history. Particularly the stories told when we gather. My father and his cousins adventures growing up in the Guyanese countryside. The now seemingly outrageous social constraints put on my mother and her seven sisters as they grew up. How various family members got their politically incorrect nicknames. LOL. All told in a Guyanese accent that flits between the King’s English and Creolese.

Mi Familia

But I’ve come to realize that it’s not enough to just hear and share our stories. It’s important that we document them as well. In an effort to preserve my family’s heritage I’ve become the cousin who covertly turns on her voice notes then prods auntie so-and-so to tell another old-time story. Or the guest obsessively taking pictures of the the various branches and generations represented at a family function.

Though I do this all without a clear plan of what exactly to do with all this information, I know it is important that our families’ story is documented in some fashion. That the details of where we come from, how we live, the music we listen to and the language we speak is not lost. As elders begin to pass and youth only show a passing interest in family lore, a written and recorded history is vital to our survivial. Not just for my family, but for all of our families.
 

It was with this thought in mind that I curated this issue of RACA titled HISTORY & HERITAGE: Documenting Caribbean & Diaspora Lives. To help guide this discussion I turned to the Felicia Chang & Zaake Coninck, the founders of Plantain, a Trinidad & Tobago based company whose mission is to help people turn their family tales and memories into beautiful memoir books, short films and digital time capsules.

In this issue, Zaake and Felicia walk us through how heritage and history shapes our identity and how studying and documenting that history important to understanding who and what we are in this world.

For those ready to begin creating a printed book of their family history, the Plantain team offers some practical advice on the process, from interviewing through printing.

Not much of a writer? That’s ok because the written word isn’t the only way to share our history. Eva Wilson of SocaMom.com shares how the sweet sound of soca music keeps her and her family tied to their Trini roots.

In the same vein Charysse Tia Harper, a filmmaker of Trini heritage, continues on the music theme by sharing a bit of her film Panomundo in which she explores the history of Trinidad’s steel pan.

I hope this issue inspires you to begin seeking out your family stories. To learn more about the culture, people and places that came together to make you who you are today. And to find a way to memorialize those stories. And if you need help doing so, I recommend you reach out to Plantain. They have the technical expertise and cultural awareness to help you create a beautiful and timeless piece of memorabilia. Whether it is a family members’ few simple tales bound into a beautiful keepsake or a deep dive into a complex family tree committed to video, the team at Plantain are more than capable.

Hope you guys enjoy this issue. Have any questions, suggestions or feedback to share? Leave a comment or contact me at one of my handles below. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue.

Oh wait! I almost forgot. The good folks at Plantain are offering a discount just for RACA readers!

Get a 5% discount on all Plantain services when you sign up for Plantain’s newsletter AND contact Plantain with the subject line RACA in the message.

Plantain Newsletter & Contact Form

What services does Plantain offer?

  • Memoirs
  • Family books,
  • Short films
  • Digital living time capsules
  • Corporate history package

From interviewing and gathering info to designing and producing the final product. Plantain is the leader on crafting thoughtful and beautiful heirlooms.

When you miss me, I gone!

 

 

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