The Benefits of Scrapbooking

I have been crafting for more than 45 years and other than prayer, it has been the one constant in my life. I've created unique and wonderful projects from sewing to crocheting. Crafting has been my stress release at times when I thought that I was going over the edge and I 've created some wonderful gifts for family and friends. When my granddaughters came along, scrapbook provided a way for me to capture their lives and share them with others.

Crafting really doesn't take a lot of time, but once you get started, you can really lose yourself it. I am in the process of completed a scrapbook of my family. As I assembled the photos of my siblings, I realized that I didn't have any photos of my brother Sam(Albert). This fact really disturbed me. So, I begin to really think of where I could get photos of him. Old yearbooks and sports photos from our high school? The high school he attended(I did as well), was closed and the items were used to create a museum in our hometown. Although I've tried, the volunteer that manages the museum and I can't seem to get on the same schedule to meet, but I will keep trying. August 12th of this year will be the 50th anniversary of his death.

Like so many of our young black men, by brother was the victim of black on black gun violence in his own community. Not because of it, but in spite of it I cannot allow his memory or his existence to fade into the annals of time. My brother was 17 when he was killed. His only legacy is those that may remember who he was as a teen. Like most in those days a good kid that not only loved sports, but was very good at it. He didn't leave any children behind so his line stops with us, the family that still loves him dearly.

I urge any that read this post, make very sure that anyone that you care about is remembered and has a place not only in the history of your family, or your community, but the world. As African American's we must continue to share our family history orally and through SCRAPBOOKING.

It’s the Words, It’s the Pictures,

It’s the Memories