Honoring Our Ancestors: Embracing Storytelling and Healing in Marginalized Communities
This blog post is inspired by my keynote speech delivered during a powerful panel session titled: "Giving Voice to Grieving Children: Stigmatized Grief Experiences Within Marginalized Communities." I was honored to share the stage with two brilliant thought leaders. Together, we co-facilitated a two-hour interactive session that opened a grief conference with depth, truth, and transformative conversation.
The Power of Storytelling as Collective Healing
As we planned our panel in advance, one topic kept resurfacing: the importance of storytelling and honoring our ancestors. We knew that in order to reach people on a soul level, we had to center our humanity. During our preplanning sessions, we made the intentional choice to incorporate ancestral reverence into our presentation. It wasn't an afterthought; it was foundational.
We asked ourselves: How do we bring our full selves to this space? And for many of us, that meant calling in the stories, sacrifices, and spirits of those who came before us. We created slides with photos that honored our lineage—our elders, our children, our people.
For me, this meant highlighting the richness of my paternal family’s history. I submitted images that traced our legacy: my beautiful grandmother, whose father was Black and mother was Irish. I placed her beside a photo of my great-great-grandfather, Nathan Horn, her father’s father—a man whose existence speaks to resilience and cultural fusion. As we displayed those images during the panel, I felt grounded. Seen. Centered.
Grief as a Shared Human Experience
Our panel went far beyond clinical frameworks or academic analysis. We shared raw stories. We created a space where educators, therapists, facilitators, and practitioners could reflect on their own losses.
We reframed grief as something universal, not just an event tied to death. Grief can be:
The loss of a relationship
A divorce or separation
Childhood trauma or adoption
The loss of identity or cultural disconnection
Losing a job, a dream, or a version of yourself
Grief is layered, ongoing, and deeply personal. Yet it connects us all.
Honoring Our Lineage and Cultural Strength
In marginalized communities, grief is often amplified by systemic neglect—in healthcare, the justice system, education, and community support. And within these systems, grief is regularly invalidated or minimized.
As a Black woman who has explored her ancestry through both lived experience and DNA testing, I was able to speak from a place of cultural clarity. My 23andMe and AncestryDNA results told a story that aligned with what I already knew in my spirit: I am made up of warriors. My DNA revealed deep West African roots (over 80%) and connections to Ireland and the UK. This blend of ancestry helped me understand the complexity of my gifts, my grief, and my ability to carry both.
Intergenerational Wisdom as a Tool for Healing
By honoring our ancestors, we reclaim our narrative. For those of us with fragmented family histories, this practice becomes revolutionary. I was fortunate to grow up with a father who prioritized historical context—sharing stories of veterans, enslaved relatives, and the enduring power of faith. My mother’s lineage, while less documented, offered love and presence.
Together, my parents supported my healing. I reflected on this when I flew with my mother and daughter to Oklahoma to visit my father, who lives there. It was during that trip—surrounded by family, legacy, and complicated love—that I was proposed to by a man I now understand was part of my spiritual detour. That moment, while painful in hindsight, was a part of the process. It was a reminder that healing is non-linear, but sacred.
From Story to Strategy: What We Gave the Audience
As the keynote unfolded, we held space for complexity. We gave the audience permission to feel, to reflect, to step outside if needed. Our stories were a mirror—not for pity, but for power.
We addressed the gaps in post-traumatic care for Black, Brown, and immigrant families. We discussed cultural grief in the Filipino community. We called out the systems that fail people in hospitals, courtrooms, and classrooms. Most importantly, we centered solutions rooted in empathy and collective accountability.
Why This Matters
Storytelling reminds us that grief is not weakness. Honoring our ancestors is not just cultural—it is strategic. It reconnects us to our purpose, our resilience, and our capacity to lead others in healing.
As one of the few speakers who came from both lived experience and professional background, I offered a unique bridge. My goal was not just to inspire, but to activate. To show that healing is possible, and that remembering where we come from helps guide where we go.
Final Reflection
This keynote experience reminded me that our stories save lives. When we speak truth, we give others permission to do the same. When we honor those who came before us, we access strength that was always ours to begin with.
We must continue to build platforms that celebrate storytelling as advocacy and truth-telling as resistance. And for those of us navigating grief, may we find solace in knowing: we are not alone, and healing is our birthright.
Want to bring this message to your organization, conference, or community? [Book Me to Speak] or [Explore My Services]
Related Blog Posts:
Who I Had to Become to Survive Loving a Convicted Murderer
Faith & Healing: Reclaiming Your Story After Trauma
What I Learned From Grieving While Leading
Scripture Reference: "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy." – Psalm 126:5
