Personal Narrative: The Black Family

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”-Jane Howard. Like many other families, my family is often dysfunctional or rambunctious at times; however, it is those moments that allow you to see the beauty in complexity. The family structure is the single most important institution in every individual’s life. Not only does it provide a person with their first means of socialization, but it also molds actions, thoughts and behaviors by instilling morals and values at a young age. My family is from Brooklyn, New York, which is also where the majority of my family currently resides. We have an intricate dynamic that may be confusing to some. On my maternal side, my grandmother had three children, all of which have different fathers. However, they did not see half brother and sister they only saw each other as siblings; our family is heavily blended. My uncle’s siblings on his father’s side also associate themselves as siblings with my aunt and mother. In addition, my grandfather also raised my aunt as his own. About a year, after I was born, my grandmother passed away due to cancer. My entire life, my uncle, and his wife assumed the roles of my maternal …show more content…
I interviewed my Aunt Louise Howard who is eighty-nine years to gain her perspective on how the Black Family has changed over time. Centuries ago, the community had more involvement with the upbringing of children. Children had a neighborhood full of fictive kin who looked out for one another and reared them in the right direction. The community was unified because individuals understood each other since everyone was facing the same struggles. In today’s society, black people look for validation through material things to prove that they are better than the next black person. More importantly, there was not the sense of pride that there is