“Why did he use a pseudonym?”

“ ‘cause the REAL one wasn’t suitn’ him”

I love lilies. The flower, and the name in all of its forms (Lily, Lilly, Lillian, Lillian etc.). You see, my Grandmother’s name was Lily and she was a vibrant storyteller. After she passed, I became slightly obsessed with all things Lily. The “O” stands for Ohio and represents, to me, a part of the Midwest. A few years ago, on the first day of class one of my History professors (African American Migrations) asked us to introduce ourselves based on our geographic roots. It was a concept that I was unfamiliar with until that time. I never realized how important it was for me to note my Midwestern roots, especially as an African American woman. I am descendent of two people who left the land nurtured by their ancestors to move north. Continue reading →