Reflections on Black History Month

I still remember the shame I felt in American History class, both high school and college. In high school, the textbook showed a pictures of Blacks picking cotton and the caption inferred that they were happy doing so. I've picked cotton and I knew that doing back breaking work in the blazing southern sun, without much pay, isn't something that brings much happiness.


In college, my professor referred to Blacks as "niggers" during the discussion of the Civil War and reconstruction. He said the term was historically accurate and in keeping with language used during that period.

After 16 years of formal education, I was livid to discover that 'slavery' was only one part of my story and the story of my people. Formal education had only given me part of my story. The rest I discovered later.

The complete story has yet to become part of our national consciousness. Despite Black history month, African Studies programs, the popular preception is that our story begins with slavery. Until the rest of our story is known we will continue to have debates that question our intelligence, our place in world history and our future.

A new century does call for new stories. These new stories must remind us of our African origins and world changing contributions. This new story must view slavery in the context of our complete history, pointing to our strengt, and removing the shame and misconceptions. Our slavery experience is a stepping stone to overcoming whatever challenges are before us.

We must return and fetch what was left behind.

Family Reunion Boot Camp

I attended a two day Family Reunion Boot Camp at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The question on everyone's mind is "How can I capture some of the family reunion business in my neck of the woods?" Unlike most attending, I'm an independent business, offering storytelling and workshop services.

While sitting, listening, I realized for the first time, I am essentially an attraction, and the marketing strategies that work for Six Flags, The Georgia Music Hall of Fame, World of Coke, all would work for me, just on a smaller scale.

So, where the story?

That is what I often fail to do, take my own advice, attend my own workshop, use the one thing I can do better than anyone else, that's to tell a story. My challenge is to remember that I am my own walking, in the flesh, marque.

What's flashing?

Most of the time, not the right message. Starting today, it changes, beginning with capturing the stories and sharing them with willing listeners. Stories are everywhere and everyone has one. I don't have to do all the telling, I can be a catalyst for someone else telling their's.

This is Wesley's Story. If you are looking for an adventure visit him at Mill Pond Kayak. He maybe contacted at info@millpondkayak.com, http://www.millpondkayak.com/.

Hi Ms. Jeannette,
Thank you for your kind note. I really enjoyed meeting and talking with you. I looked at your website and found that we have both taken a similar journey, although along different paths. I loved your following quote: “The next career would be so enjoyable I would do it free and I'd be so good people would be willing to pay.” I graduated UGA in 1983 with a B.S. in Zoology, then got sidetracked for 25 years in a manufacturing career. This past summer, after the death of one of my business partners who was also my brother-in-law, I decided to retire. I wanted to look for a part-time career that would be fun and fulfilling, while leaving me time to pursue other important things like helping my aging parents and other family members, as well as getting myself in better physical, mental, and emotional health.

I think I have found the perfect fit with this new venture. It allowed me to return to my original interest in nature and the outdoors, while getting plenty of exercise and fresh air. Stress levels are way down, and sleep is much more sound! I get to meet lots of wonderful people, including many advisors who’ve been so helpful with the business start-up. But the best part of all is when I get a group of new customers who’ve never been in a kayak, and I get to introduce them to a new and enjoyable experience. It feels like I’m sharing a really good secret with them. It is truly an activity that is suitable for all ages, but the most rewarding for me is watching young children discover something new and realize that they can have a good time without some sort of electronic device in their hands.

If you get a chance, please visit my website at www.millpondkayak.com and click the link to the blog. As a storyteller, hopefully you will enjoy reading the Christmas poem that I wrote and published in the local newspaper. I wrote it in order to encourage folks to purchase gift certificates. My 19 year-old son is in the accompanying photograph dressed as Santa.

Well, that’s my story. I hope we can meet again sometime. You seem like a very unique and interesting person whom I’d like to learn more about.

Healing Stories

Six months have gone by and still I can't wrap my mind around the 'story' of my mother's death. One minute she was here and the next she'd slipped into eternity. Driving by the nursing home last week, my neice was just sure I'd be tempted to stop. So many times I am tempted. Maybe I continue to visit the thrift shop near it because it's an attachment that remains.

My first grief support group session was today. The tears were so near the front, we danced around, getting some where, I'm sure. Talking for an hour about what doesn't hurt, finding it too hard to talk about what's really hurting.

I miss ma, that's what I called her, not mama, mom, it was always the country "ma". Sometimes, it was embrassing, yet I continued because anything less would have betrayed the many times 'ma' was all I needed to summon her help, her prayers, her smile or frown.

I know that stories are healing for others, this time, I am the one standing in need of a story and I'm waiting for someone to help me find the one that will do the trick. Isn't there a story, like a magic wand that will make it all better. I have several I've read and they are all good, they just aren't magic.

I'll keep telling stories, keep remembering and just know that one day, I can go to Milledgeville and not feel the conpulsive need to visit that little thrift shop near Green Acres Nursing home.

Picking Up The Pieces

It was new, blogging. What a great idea. I started one, and kept it up for a while. Now, I'm picking up the pieces and starting to regularly blog about the adventureous world of storytelling.

Thanksgiving has just past and it was bitter sweet. I am thankful and I miss my mom. She passed during the summer. This was my first Thanksgiving without her.

Whatever the reason, my brother and sisters were not together. My brother is out of the country, one sister was with her niece, the other sister stayed home and made dinner for my sons. I was with my in-laws.

They told their stories, carried on their tradition, as it should be. Being new to the family, I didn't have a clue to the significance of any of them. What was familiar and heart warming was the coming together of generations.

My brother and sisters still have two more holidays to overcome our sadness. Being together is still hard. It reminds us of all the holidays, birthdays, Sunday dinners, bar-b-cues, Easters we've shared over the years. It reminds us that an anchor, the boundaries of parents, have been removed.

Who are we now? What relationship will we have with each other? Can we find the joy in the sadness? These questions are best answered by the stories we will share and the ones we will remember. As long as we tell the stories, mom continues to live and influence our lives.

Family Storytelling

Storytellers,

What does a Kwanzaa Storytelling Workshop, a Kwanzaa Celebration
and a late night family gathering around buffalo wings and nacho cheese dip have in common? The answer is great storytellers and storytelling. There is a shared common belief that storytelling is only done by those gifted with a special talent. Ordinary people don't have anything special to tell and even if they did who would want to listen to what they have to say.

During the family gathering with my niece, grand-niece and cousins, I mostly listened. The stories had all the drama, excitement and humor found in stories from the best storytellers. I felt connected and I remembered. Things I had forgotten resurfaced, and I once again became
that little barefoot country girl with the long pigtails. My city cousins took me on my first trip to
six flags, squeezed into the back of a station wagon. Each generation told their stories and best of all, younger children were there to listen. Cousins that had not met before connected, bonds were established and others renewed.

What began for me as a public journey, that of a performing storyteller of fables and folktales, is transitioning into a personal and private journey, transitioning into a keeper and teller of my families stories. Part of that transition is to help others discover their
stories and restore faith in the worthiness of the stories and the necessity of telling the stories.

The Kwanzaa Storytelling Workshop was a great personal success. I was able to witness a family share their stories with each other. A 6 year old told of getting a pet, a 14 year old told of the beauty of her name and a 12 year old about his football coach. Husband and wife co-told of their desire for children and how their life has changed with children, and a daughter told of her father's influence in helping her become and independent adult.

I will not forget the look of surprise as each discovered their story and the dawning awareness that there were many more stories to tell. The shinning eyes, expressive words and smiles that greeted each story reaffirmed the value of the storyteller and the story. I want to witness more of this during 2006. As I develop my family stories, I want to work with others to develop their family stories.

One of my goals is to present several more family storytelling workshops. I ask your assistance and support as I make this transition in storytelling.

Jeanette Vaughn Waddell, Professional Storyteller
706-444-6133
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage and entertain."

Learning Communities

The Green Apple, a small family own bar/restaurant, reminds me of Cheers, was my "Chautauqua", learning community.  I can't even pronounce the word, and yet I ache to reexperience the concept.  I will not be satisfied with only a  virtual learning community.  I will recreate this with real people, in real time in my life.  I need this as much as I need air, food,water and love. I enjoy the Internet, a champion of e-mail communication.  This cannot replace connecting with real people.  I refuse to be stripped of the most meaningful experiences in life.  Ok, I've vented.

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
jeanettevaughn.blogspot.com (listen to a story)
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

Connecting through Storytelling

Storytellers,

 

We are entering the season of great joy and great human need.  The best and the worst, more giving and loving; more depression more suicide.  The more high tech society becomes the more high touch will become necessary.  Unconsciously, we can spend days and even weeks without meaningful conversation with a real human being. Yesterday, I worked with a first grader that cried most of the day because she missed her mother.

 

What does this have to do with us as storytellers? We are high touch, we provide the high touch that far too many people are missing.  I sat beside the crying child and read a story.  She began to smile before the story was over.  There were more tears; she felt comfortable enough with me to let me hold her hand. She was willing to accept the comfort I offered.

 

This season, bring the gift of storytelling to those within your circle.  Share the beauty of human longing, suffering and triumph.  Truly, storytelling is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

Happy Holidays

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
jeanettevaughn.blogspot.com (listen to a story)
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

Conquering Unreasonable Fear

 

This was an exciting day for me, both as a Kuumba member and personally.  The telling flowed, each story building and adding another dimension.  Listening was truly a feast for my ears.  I didn't plan to tell.  I asked to be placed last, hoping that we would run out of time and I wouldn't have to.

 

After about the sixth teller, I realized I'd better think of a story.  I'd thought about telling "The Trunk of Possibilities, a story I wrote for Southwest Atlanta Magazine.  I've never told a story that had begun as a written story.  The personal stories I've told up till this point were developed as oral stories.

 

I've never been able to translate a story that began as a written story into an oral story.  I'd almost changed my mind, until I talked with a friend of Gwen Napier's.  Gwen's friend said she'd read the story and really liked it.  (I wondered if anyone ever read those stories.)  She went one to tell me that it was her favorite of all the stories I'd written.  As if that wasn't enough encouragement, she shared a story. 

 

While Christmas shopping, she began a conversation with the sales clerk wrapping the purchase she'd just made.  The clerk mentioned that she didn't have a  present to give her grandchildren.  Gwen's friend told her the story "The Trunk of Possibilities."  She said that "you have something valuable that would be appreciated.  You may not know what it is now, somewhere, you to have a "trunk of possibilities."  The woman began crying as she finished wrapping the present.

 

Of course I chose to tell the story, and it turned out better than I ever expected.  Leaving the library, the adrenalin was pumping, not ready to go home, I ended up listening to a Latin band.  I've always wanted to dance in the street.  Tonight I did.  It was incredible.

 

Each time I conquer an unreasonable fear, my storytelling is transformed.  I am freed to be more expressive and to try the untried.  Watch out, I've just tackled two unreasonable fears, at our next event I may be dancing on the tables.

 

Thank you all for sharing this journey with me.  

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
jeanettevaughn.blogspot.com (listen to a story)
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

The Storyteller's Voice

The Kuumba Storytellers of Georgia has many exceptional
storytellers. I've listened in awe during the last five months as they
performed at The Green Apple, a small restaurant/bar in downtown East
Point Georgia. Any storyteller that can hold the attention of adults in
a bar is worth noting. Even better than that, when the bar patrons turn
from the baseball/basketball game, listens, and remind the storyteller to
continue repeating the story's refrain.

Listening, I'm often coveting the storytellers style and voice.
Eventually common sense prevails and I understand that I enjoy the teller
precisely because they are staying true to their voice. We are each
different, each unique, each with a passion for storytelling. The
passion is expressed in the particular stories we choose.

This journey is filled with surprises and pitfalls. I want to
enjoy the surprises and avoid pitfalls as much as possible. Those I
don't avoid, I want to learn and pass the lesson on to others. This
lesson I pass on: Discover your voice and maintain true. It is the only
way to lasting success.

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
jeanettevaughn.blogspot.com (listen to a story)
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

Audio Story: How Wisdom Came into the World

Storytelling workshop for teachers, media specialist, daycare providers. 

And Then...

And then I checked the Creative Storytelling Blog, lo and behold, my post
was there. I am spending this week and next week developing an internet
presence. I am registered with Kudzu. com and began this blog. The next
challenge is to have audio and pictures on the blog. Audio will allow me
to share some of my favorite stories. Pictures are still worth a
thousand words. I am also going to sign on with Storyteller.net, with
audio and a written article.

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

The Story Finally Begins

I've tried for several days to post to this blog. I've met with
countless hours of frustration. Finally, I'm hoping that this will post
through email. This is a new venture for me.

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."