By Nicole Alicia

I really began to zero in these last couple of months on what my true interests are as far as writing. I do have a knack for research, but also I have a passion for learning about History. Specifically Black History and a love of learning about the past. I naturally for some reason have always love, love, loved old stuff. Like the relics that were in my Grandmother’s house and older relatives I found fascinating as a child as was told, “Don’t touch that!” But it’s more than just that.

Old TV shows and Movies that I watched with my Grandma and Mom growing up, old objects with significant history or purpose my grandparents housed in their basement (They had an old white 1950’s stove and cabinet set white the chrome handles for some reason). Museums and hearing stories of past lives lived was so intriguing and still is. Somehow all these things feed my soul in a way that most people crave Ice Cream or the way I sometimes crave our hometown’s popcorn, Topsy’s. I love hearing stories from my Mom and Dad also of how things were when they were growing up in the 50’s and 60’s in Kansas City. It was amazing how different things were back then to me in comparison to how things were for me in the 80’s and 90’s when I was coming up. Many people are gone from that era and building too, but somethings still remain.

So all of this led me to where I am today writing to you to not only share, but to educate. In a conversation with a younger cousin years back (she’s about 14 years younger than me), I was telling her stories about our Grandmother and some other relatives and she looked lost. She had no idea what I was talking about, but I had forgot the significant age difference. But out of curiosity I stopped and asked, “You don’t know who I am talking about do you?” to which she replied, “Not really”. I know history isn’t of interest for everyone, but I do believe we should know who our people are. At least it’s important to me.

I am a continuous student o f learning. I crave knowledge, whether it be documentaries, biopics or autobiographies about our culture and heritage. I am an avid reader and at 40 have learned sooo much in recent years by reading different books like, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones (Although I am still reading this in tidbits, because it’s heavy and a ton of info to digest for me all at once) and Kindred by Octavia Butler. But even before that, I had been triggered by a certain so-called family secret that was revealed about 15 or so years ago, to go on my own journey to research my family history and origins on both sides of my family tree. 

What I found was most interesting. Another influence that cause me to explore my own family genealogy is that I had always been fascinated with Dr. Henry Louis Gates show on PBS, “Finding Your Roots”. I had also read his origin story in a book he wrote, Colored People, a fascinating tale of his adventure and life growing up in West Virginia. On my Dad’s side of the Family it has been well researched by my Aunt (My Dad’s older sister) who has found quite a bit of history on that side all the way back to slavery times I believe. My Mother’s maternal side of the family and history is a bit of mystery going past a certain point of my Great-Great Grandmother and even the early life of my Grandma. I believe at this point that a lot of people do avoid learning family history due to trauma and pain. However, I like to explore more to imagine what it was like back then in comparison to today. I have made it a point to try and write my own story thus far.  I write greatly so that future generations may get to know who I was. Not that I just existed and who I was married to or who my kids or grandkids were, but to know what I was thinking, what I did daily, my struggles, what triggered me and what I liked. I wish I could have known some of these ancestors and been able to have a conversation with them.

This is just a preview of what is to come in the articles that I post. I hope you enjoy this aspect of it. I will also not only be sharing my family history, but I will be sharing stories about Kansas City, MISSOURI where I was raised and lived up until 2016 (I emphasize MISSOURI. Which is a story for another day.). This is just a very brief synopsis and a subject of what is to come so make sure to follow me @nicolealiciawrites on Instagram and TicTok for more insight into who I am and follow my writing journey! 

-Nicole Alicia