Three generations of women had a choice of getting their nails done, going to the Olive Garden, or writing a poem to celebrate their twenty-five year age difference when they realized they were exactly 75, 50, and 25 years old. What began less than a year ago as a family project has since evolved into a collection and gained literary momentum in the nation’s capitol and the surrounding area.
Popular Radio One WMMJ on-air-personality, Natalie Case (mid-day), recently selected Pearls of Wisdom From Three Generations, the new collection of sayings, expressions, and prayers by grandmother Celia Ford age 75, daughter Theresa Allen 50, and granddaughter Pamela Simonson 25, as Majic 102.3’s Book-of-the-Month for May 2004. Released in September 2003 on Grandparent’s Day in honor of Ford and other grandparents, the collection has since evolved into a generational legacy among African Americans. Particularly popular among women, the eldest of the three authors stated about the 252-page collection,
“One customer got the book for her 12 year old daughter in anticipation of giving it to her on her 16th birthday along with a strand of pearls”. Ford concurred with her daughter and granddaughter agreeing the book is a perfect way to incorporate a new tradition for families, sororities, churches, and organizations that are dedicated to lifting up African American womanhood. The retired Registered Nurse and native New Yorker, continued by saying,
“The pearls symbolize virtue and purity, wisdom symbolizes our history, and the book symbolizes a new tradition for families and groups who want to pass on a generational legacy”.
With African American families making more of an effort to keep track of the wise words passed down from generation to generation in the form of books, devotionals, and journals, the authors are right in the pulse of a significant movement. Majic 102.3 FM selected the book as the Book-of-the-Month during May, the month Mother’s Day is traditionally celebrated.
”I remember my elders every time I read a quote”, stated Veetta Lenori, a teacher in Prince George’s County Public Schools.
“They touch an important part of my own family history”, she continued.
Charlene Henry, Director of the Black Authors Foundation, Inc. praised the project by stating,
“Expressions from three generations of women in the same family contained in one book are a testament…displaying a mix of commitment, courage, and strength.” Located in Largo, Maryland, Henry continued with,
“The book affirms that people differ from one generation to another, yet remain the same…because they were shaped by the previous generation.”
Exactly 25 years apart, Ford, Allen, and Simonson, offer encouragement and inspiration through daily affirmations and sayings. Their hope was to bring the rich legacy and history of family to the forefront of the community, in ways all generations can appreciate.
Radio One’s WMMJ Majic 102.3 FM with an urban, R&B sound has a listening audience in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland and features the Tom Joyner Show. The nation's seventh largest radio broadcasting company (based on 2003 net broadcast revenue) and the largest company that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners, Radio One owns and/or operates 67 radio stations located in 22 urban markets in the United States and reaches approximately 13 million listeners every week. The DC metro area boasts of WKYS-FM 93.9 offering mainstream and urban music, WOL-FM representing talk radio for African American listeners, and their Gospel station WYCB-AM.
Case gives a complimentary book away each day to her listeners during her mid-day show, as a tribute to the Mother’s Day season. Published by Thelemaque Publishing, the book, Pearls of Wisdom From Three Generations, may also be purchased at all Karibu store locations, on the Karibu website www.karibu.com, or on www.amazon.com.
