Dr. Dennis Kimbro at
New Creation Christian Fellowship, San Antonio, TX.

We identify one another by our family names. Our families are watched over by our ancestors and led by our elders. Everyone within the family unit has his or her own special role and contribution to make. We observe this understanding of the family and believe that veering from it is disruptive to the unity and harmony of the community.

In the village, each child is everyone's child, and each family member a part of everyone's family. If someone from the village marries one from another village, both villages become family. This is not just what we say or believe, this is how we live.

While it is called something very different today, every society honors its ancestors in almost every aspect of life. Societies build monuments to their ancestors. They name buildings, streets, and schools after them. Picturing deceased leaders on currency is a form of ancestor worship.

In your most ancient cellular memory is a history of African men being looked up to, bowed down to, revered, honored, and respected because they were men. They were leaders, the decision makers. That was their role. It was not, however, without balance. The ancient African man, in return for his position in the community, honored the role of women because they provided the much needed spiritual and emotionl balance

"All that one has one owes to one's father,
and twice to one's mother"