Tarot Alkhemy

I hope you take the photos. Turn on that playlist that gets makes you feel all the good feels. 

I went to this event for death education and I was one of two Black folks in the room. One topic we were given was about what to do with old photos and family heirlooms that either no one wanted, or didn’t find significant because they didn’t know who it was in them. No writings on the back, just boxes and boxes of photo albums. 

Imagine how much gets thrown away that ties missing links for Black folks present day. I thought of my own family and other Black folks who didn’t have the luxury of taking hundreds of photos or even collecting them to pass down to future generations if they had them.

I thought of how many photos featured Black folks that could be long lost relatives to the community that’ll never be identified.

I thought of my paternal grandfather, a dear Ancestor of mine I didn’t get to have conversations with or have a photo of him for my altar.

Just imagine how many more photos are erased from history from people we want to know more about but can’t put a face to them. People who meant something to someone. People who look like you and me.

One of my favorite past times is looking through old photos and hearing the stories behind them with my elders. I thought, 

I wonder if they knew this photo would be here decades later and mean so much to someone they’ve never met. Did they understand the magnitude of significance this photo would carry for someone like me? Maybe it was just a photo to them. Either way, I’m grateful.

When I look at the photos of my Ancestors, I often thank them for taking the time to capture a moment in time that’ll be discussed 50, 60, 70, 100 years from now. At a time where Black folks may have had more urgent priorities, they still took the time to take the pictures. I want to celebrate that with them with this post.

So, here I am to tell you to take the photos. Print them out and make albums or keepsakes for future generations. Label them. Write about them. Restore and preserve the memories.

Most importantly, do it for you. You deserve to be celebrated and photographed just as you are. Don’t think you’re good at taking pictures? 

• Create a loving environment with some dope music and vibe out on video, then screenshot stills that show your joy, your laughter, your expressions. 
• Do a budoir photoshoot and celebrate your sexy. Put your phone on a tripod and take beautiful photos right at home. 
• Print them on canvas for your bedroom. 
• Take some sexy photos with (or for) your significant other. You get it. Celebrate yourself, sis.

Your memory deserves to be preserved and cherished. You never know what descendant will come to appreciate you taking the time to document yourself and share the joy. I hope you celebrate yourself more, document it, and share it with those who love you. You deserve it.