Family has always transcended bloodlines in the Black community. From the days of slavery to the struggles against systemic oppression, our survival has depended on the love, loyalty, and protection of our own blood and those we choose as family.
Slavery tore Black families apart. Parents and children were often sold off and separated, left with little to no way of finding each other again. Yet, they always found a way to create families from the community around them.
Found family connections aren’t just arbitrary. They become an essential part of our learning and growth in life. These relationships foster kinship through shared experiences and give us the security to protect and nurture each other.
Aunties, uncles, play cousins, “sisters,” and “brothers” have gotten us through everything. We’ve had each other’s backs, from arguments on the playground to marching at protests. This sense of collective responsibility is an act of resistance against the systems designed to divide and destroy.
We continue to build support systems that allow us to thrive. These bonds strengthen us to keep going, ensuring our culture, history, and future remain rooted in love and solidarity.