The Art of Self

Self-Discovery Journey 

Reflection: The Art of Self

Self-discovery is a fascinating and complex process that requires us to answer the question, "Who are you?" There is no room for ambiguity - we must dig deep and find the answer within ourselves. It's not enough to consider only the surface level, and we can't rely on others to define us. We must be confident in our own identity, regardless of whether others agree with us.

​Defining ourselves by one experience or many is a personal choice, but we must acknowledge that we are more than one-dimensional. Our multifaceted nature is like a diamond, with different cuts illuminated depending on our position and the light. This is "who you are," and it is relative to dependability. The dependability of the circumstances in this instance determines how dependable you are.

Our interactions with others are based on dependability, and we must always consider the dependability of another or ourselves. Failure to do so will result in hitting a wall, and we will be stuck in the confines of subjectivity.

When we make statements like "you are smart," we must be clear about what we mean. Are we saying that the person is smarter than us or smarter than we thought? Human nature dictates that the answer is "you are smarter than me," even when a person seems self-sacrificing.

Evaluating who an ancestor was requires a lot of critical thinking, creativity, and sensitivity. We must be careful and respectful in using the sources and evidence we find and acknowledge their limitations and uncertainties. We must be open-minded and curious in exploring the different facets and dimensions of our ancestor's identity and experience. We must be honest and humble in recognizing our assumptions and biases and how they may affect our interpretation and presentation of our ancestor's story. We must be willing and courageous in confronting the challenges and complexities of our ancestor's history and how they may impact our sense of self and belonging.

Evaluating who an ancestor was is not only a scientific or academic exercise but also a personal and artistic one. We must honor and connect with our ancestors, learn more about ourselves and our family, and create and share a meaningful and authentic story that can inspire and educate others. This is how we practice the art of self.

This blog post is part of a series on evaluating Black family history and African American genealogy research. I hope you enjoyed reading it and learned something new. Please share your thoughts and comments below. Thank you for your time and attention.​