A few days before the spring semester was set to begin, I received a telegram-style email from Clarence White: “I love your writings and I think I fit in with…
Emily R RutterOctober 15, 2024
Fellow BitterSweet participant Sarah Eisner has just published a book, The Reparations Project, with her Reparations Project partner and co-founder, Randy Quarterman. The book is written in alternating chapters by Randy…
BitterSweet EditorsSeptember 26, 2024
On May 5, 2024 Henry Wiencek, author of The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White (1999), joined members of the large and extended Hairston clan: Dean Hairston, a…
Lee GuionMay 30, 2024
March in Minnesota is still winter. My younger sister Melanie and I were born and raised in this state and live in the Twin Cities, as have our parents. Our…
Debra StoneJanuary 4, 2024
-- By Beverly Bevel This essay explores the difficulties encountered when descendants of slavery broach the elephant in the room. "My ancestors owned your ancestors." I don’t believe there is…
Beverly BevelFebruary 2, 2023
On October 24, 2021, the Linked Descendants group of Coming to the Table hosted a panel on Contacting and Connecting with Linked Descendants. The panelists included four linked pairs (the…
BitterSweet EditorsJanuary 18, 2022
Originally published on NPR's Code Switch in November 2018, Nabil Ayers' story about discovering his family history, his connections to slavery, and developing a relationship with a linked descendant is…
BitterSweet EditorsJanuary 4, 2022
Violet Craig Turner (1828-1906) When I was a child, Uncle George's stories and the serious inflection in his voice always commanded my attention. He frequently told me about…
Antoinette BroussardOctober 23, 2020
Dedicated to Susan Hutchison, Co-Founder, Coming to the Table Written by Pam Smith and Ann Neel Publication facilitated by Prinny Anderson As all of us in Coming To The Table…
BitterSweet EditorsFebruary 26, 2017