I keep revisiting this photo of grandfather watching my dissertation defense. Born in 1930 Mississippi, in a town where ppl were lynched, where the Klan terrorized the community, where there was no protection for Black folks. My life is only possible because of all he overcame.

It’s hard to find silver linings amid everything going on right now, but one thing that’s true is that my grandfather wouldn’t have been able to watch my defense if it had been held in person. But bc it was held over Zoom he got to be a part of this moment. I’m grateful for that.

He’s almost 90 now, and as he gets older I think more often about how much my life was shaped by his. My paternal grandmother also got to watch. My maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather have passed, but I felt them there with me too. This degree belongs to all of them.