#thiossane

Photographed and edited by Konate Primus

The Sunday before last was Mother’s Day, and a few weeks before that was the passing of my grandmother, Flossie Primus. I’ll remember most for her l legacy of kindness, wit, and humor. And though we’ve already celebrated as a family both the life of my granny, and the awesomeness that is my own mother, Myrtle Primus-King, I would like to share with you some words about these lovely black women! Black mamas possess a magic that is as unyielding as it is boundless. I learned this from my mom, both of my grandmothers, as well as my aunts, and all the women in my life who’ve ever nurtured, protected and guided me.

Our moms are our superheroes, our friends, our inspirations, our teachers, the matriarchs of our bloodlines, the women who carry our stories and our traditions in their DNA. Constantly, they sacrifice for us, simultaneously building up themselves and their children. The older I get the harder I realize it is not just to be an adult but to be a parent, a mother. All I can do is think wow, you did that for me?? For all of us??

From our mothers we learn how to love ourselves and others, we learn how to be affectionate how to sustain ourselves. In our mothers eyes, we begin to realize who we are and who we want to be in the world, and a mothers love makes all the difference.

Granted every mother-child relationship is not always peaches and cream, but nothing is more gratifying than making your mother proud. One of the best things about coming home from Senegal, is I could tell how proud she and my father were. Where I was starting to feel pressured like I still have something to prove to myself and to others I could breathe a little easier because I understood that even though she has always pushing me towards success, she was proud of what I had done.

Don’t miss Youssou N'Dour on November 15th

@ The LC Pavilion

Come jam out with Youssou N'Dour & Thiossane at The LC

                            On November 15th