Black Cord of Hope was born from a deep, personal awakening—one sparked by a single photograph and a grandmother’s haunting story. At 99, her mind was sharp, her memories vivid. As she held a tattered tin photo of her own grandmother, she revealed a painful truth: at just ten years old, she had been given away as a wedding gift to a white couple and brought to America.
That moment was more than a story—it was a revelation. It unveiled the systemic impact of slavery on five generations of my maternal bloodline and made me acutely aware of how history still lingers in our lives today. The trauma of our ancestors did not end with them; it continues to shape the mental, emotional, and economic struggles of millions of African Americans.
As I traced my family's past through the timelines of slavery, I felt an undeniable call to action—a voice urging me to speak, to heal, and to create something that would empower others to reclaim their identity and strength. Black Cord of Hope was founded to confront this generational trauma, to acknowledge the weight of our history, and to transform pain into purpose.
This is more than a mission—it is a movement toward healing, liberation, and the restoration of our collective power.
