Thursdays 11:00am - 12:00pm (EDT)
WHAT WILL THE AUDIENCE LEARN?
Listeners will be inspired to reflect on their own stories, what calls them to the work of social justice, and why it is critical that these stories, particularly of women, become a part of our archives.
EPISODE SUMMARY:
Join Rev. Dr. TLC as she brings back guest host, Angela Todd (historian and archivist) as they delve into Part 3 of "What Made Me Who I Am." They will take a look at some of the powerful women in Rev. Dr. TLC's family who helped to shape her life. They will discuss the power of unconditional love, faith, and a deep understanding of our shared humanity were critical to her work of social justice. Listen in to hear personal stories about her mother Elmira and other women in her family who modeled justice in their everyday lives. Discover why these stories of Black women are important to our history and should be included in family archives.
Rev. Dr. TLC invites you to share your response to the question "What made me who I am." Write into the show or listen live to comment. Your response might be read on the air.
Tune in for this important conversation at TalkRadio.nyc.
00:00:48.530 --> 00:00:57.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Hello, and welcome to the dismantle racism show. I am your host, the Reverend Dr. Tail. See, the goal of this show is to educate
00:00:57.460 --> 00:01:19.550 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Eradicate into dismantle racism. We really want to create a world where racial equity exists for everyone. I'm so excited that you have join me today to listen to the show, whether you're listening, live, or whether you're listening to it as a rerun. I do want to invite you, if you would to please subscribe to the show.
00:01:19.860 --> 00:01:48.190 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Tell your friends about the show. As well create some buzz about the show, and then also let us know the topics that you would be interested in hearing about on this show. Let us know what some of your experiences have been with dismantling racism I'd love to hear from you. And then finally, I want to invite you to go to Sacred intelligence.com. See what I have going on there, and I want to just add.
00:01:48.420 --> 00:01:51.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: if you enjoy the show, and you are interested
00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:58.800 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and becoming a patron of the show to help support this show, to continue on the air.
00:01:58.800 --> 00:02:18.530 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I invite you to go to sacred intelligence, Icon. Check out what I have going on there, and then also contact me and let me know that you would be interested, and we will engage in a further conversation about it. Now let's get to it, because i'm really excited about the show. Today we are doing part 3
00:02:18.530 --> 00:02:21.200 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of what made me who I am.
00:02:21.430 --> 00:02:36.830 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Not only do I have returning guest, interviewer, archivist, Angela Todd here, but I have my daughter, my youngest daughter with me today, because we are going to be looking at this thing generationally.
00:02:36.940 --> 00:02:45.570 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and that also explains why I have spellman on my shirt. Because it says Spellman Mom, because, as you know.
00:02:45.670 --> 00:02:56.220 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I went to the number one Hbc. You, Howard University so I don't want there to be any confusion around the t-shirt is I love supporting her.
00:02:56.440 --> 00:03:11.140 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and all that she does, and I absolutely love stolen as well. And so that's why, I do, though, have a shirt on, because I don't usually have a a t shirt on, but i'm just tickle Tickle Tickle to have her with me today.
00:03:11.200 --> 00:03:22.300 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I do want to get started, as I always do, and invite us into a time of meditation. So if you would just please close your eyes.
00:03:23.850 --> 00:03:30.060 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: play your feet solidly on the floor, or if you're outside, which is a nice place to be
00:03:30.150 --> 00:03:33.490 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: like your feet on the ground.
00:03:35.160 --> 00:03:40.580 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and if you happen to be sitting, I want you to feel the chair
00:03:40.990 --> 00:03:42.670 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: supporting you.
00:03:44.130 --> 00:03:47.530 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and know that you are supported
00:03:47.790 --> 00:03:49.220 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: by the universe.
00:03:50.920 --> 00:03:54.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You are wrapped in divine love.
00:03:56.910 --> 00:04:00.150 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You are unconditionally loved.
00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:12.970 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you are divinely created. You are the manifestation of something that is great and powerful. You come from that. You are that.
00:04:15.300 --> 00:04:18.730 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and there is nothing that you cannot do.
00:04:20.570 --> 00:04:26.560 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And so you just breathe in and out, recognizing your power.
00:04:28.420 --> 00:04:34.480 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And when that power is infused with other people who are on the same journey.
00:04:35.390 --> 00:04:48.770 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we can change the world. We are Meds for greatness. We are meant for harmony. We are met for compassion and kindness.
00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:55.890 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We're not to live in places of fear and scarcity.
00:04:56.980 --> 00:04:59.390 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because that's what racism is about.
00:05:02.170 --> 00:05:09.240 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We're not meant to be elevated from someone else's weaknesses. but we're actually met
00:05:10.440 --> 00:05:18.100 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to elevate them even as we elevate ourselves so that we all live in a place of abundance
00:05:19.810 --> 00:05:21.120 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and equity.
00:05:23.640 --> 00:05:24.900 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and health
00:05:26.630 --> 00:05:30.290 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and good education. good housing.
00:05:32.770 --> 00:05:34.830 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: great finances.
00:05:36.210 --> 00:05:40.310 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You are part of changing the system.
00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:44.080 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So just connect with yourself.
00:05:45.380 --> 00:05:48.030 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: connect with your foundation.
00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:56.240 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and know that just as you are supported, you are meant to support others.
00:05:57.610 --> 00:06:00.980 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So just breathe in and out.
00:06:03.770 --> 00:06:07.600 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and then recognize that the power of one
00:06:09.140 --> 00:06:12.380 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: contributes to the power of community.
00:06:13.850 --> 00:06:16.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and together we can change the status quo.
00:06:20.080 --> 00:06:22.490 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So just take another deep breath in.
00:06:24.670 --> 00:06:27.410 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and then exhale slowly.
00:06:30.960 --> 00:06:37.620 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and when you're ready you can open your eyes. and we shall be there.
00:06:41.910 --> 00:06:50.630 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So good morning again. Good morning. Good morning. I am not going to waste any time. I had so much fun last week
00:06:50.650 --> 00:07:00.290 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: with Angela on the show, and she's back again. Angela is the consummate archivist.
00:07:00.370 --> 00:07:13.080 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and she makes sure that every conversation we have She's always telling me what I can put in the files to keep, and why it is so important.
00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:21.270 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and I so deeply appreciate her. And I just want to say, Really, Angela is the impetus for what i'm doing this month
00:07:21.370 --> 00:07:24.860 in the way that i'm carrying it out.
00:07:25.430 --> 00:07:27.480 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: My plan was
00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:38.240 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: on the first week. I knew I wanted to do one week of talking about what made me who I am. and I wanted to bring my mother into that conversation.
00:07:38.440 --> 00:07:47.070 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But when I got on the phone with Angela she was like, Wait, wait, wait! It's so we charge it out something for the entire month.
00:07:47.660 --> 00:07:52.960 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And in doing so this isn't just to show that
00:07:53.690 --> 00:08:00.680 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: simply dismantling racism that's important, and that's great. But what Angela has taught me to do through this
00:08:00.900 --> 00:08:11.640 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: is to be sure that I download these episodes, so they don't get lost if someone else takes over where these you know videos are housed.
00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:29.580 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: she's saying, Download them because this is history. Not only is this woman in history it's black history, and Angela talks a lot about how our stories and we know this. Those of us who are wide are often missing from history.
00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:36.860 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I've taken a course with Angela, on learning how to track my family history.
00:08:37.470 --> 00:08:46.300 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and she's been very instrumental in putting a fire under me in terms of just how I keep those documents.
00:08:46.660 --> 00:08:48.170 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and she's committed
00:08:48.280 --> 00:08:56.180 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: particularly to help in women of color find their story. She works with anybody. Yes, yes, yes, she does.
00:08:56.430 --> 00:09:00.170 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: but she has a passion. This is Angela's way
00:09:00.670 --> 00:09:07.020 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of dismantling racism, because we all have a way in which we can engage in the process.
00:09:07.260 --> 00:09:18.170 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You could still do what you love and what you're passionate about. But just Don't, forget the ways in which you can dismantle racism. So i'm so grateful to have
00:09:18.390 --> 00:09:22.800 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: my dear friend the archivist the historian.
00:09:23.350 --> 00:09:36.740 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Angela Todd, as my guest interviewer today. So, Angela, i'm going to turn it over to you and let you just dig in and ask the questions that you have, and of course you all
00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:46.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I me say that Tila Avery is my daughter as well. She is a guest on the show, because I don't want to not introduce my baby girl for the show today.
00:09:48.340 --> 00:10:02.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: but she you will learn more about her as we go on. She is a student at Spellman, and she is just doing some amazing things in the world, and i'm just
00:10:02.530 --> 00:10:07.620 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: again delighted to have both of them on the show. So, Angela. It's all yours.
00:10:08.400 --> 00:10:22.750 Angela Todd: Well, thank you for that. That was humbling at at best. But I will say that black Women's history is the most fragile that I can think of in the moment. And not only were the documents not saved in real time throughout history.
00:10:22.770 --> 00:10:37.060 Angela Todd: but if you've got documentation, I urge you to gather it and save it in the facility, because you, your last stop right to being able to capture what really happened.
00:10:37.520 --> 00:10:40.980 Angela Todd: Oh, excuse me, and I think that, as you know.
00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:56.220 Angela Todd: the Tulsa massacre has become into the purview of mainstream culture. We'll call it, or white culture, or whatever. And we've learned about all that's been missing, you know, even in those places where archives have been saved.
00:10:56.900 --> 00:11:03.590 Angela Todd: files get checked out and never returned, or whatever so you might have documents that you don't realize people are really looking for.
00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:06.070 Angela Todd: So, anyway, thank you for that.
00:11:06.250 --> 00:11:19.370 Angela Todd: So I want to start off with this quote: I've heard you say this at your retreats, and we started, man, when we started talking about this interview. You said, oh, i'm spoiled, i'm just not spoiled brought.
00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:36.670 Angela Todd: and I wonder if you'd talk about your family, and where you are in the birth order, and til of feel free to chime in at any point and say, Yes, she's spoiled rotten. I don't think so. First of all, I don't think the Tila would say that because is bold
00:11:37.110 --> 00:11:40.870 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: right to a degree right. So so
00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:53.590 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know, babies in our families. They always carry a special place, I think, and that's why my daughter and I actually te you up because she's the youngest grand child, my great grandchild. I need that. But she's the youngest grand
00:11:53.610 --> 00:11:59.530 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: child. So what I mean by being spoiled, but not spoils rotten.
00:11:59.770 --> 00:12:00.900 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Hi!
00:12:01.130 --> 00:12:08.900 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I just knew my family loved me so unconditionally, and I think, as the baby of the family.
00:12:09.150 --> 00:12:10.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I do think that
00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:25.250 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I was doted on the way. I think that they probably sometimes still might dote on me in a way, but most of it goes to my kids, I would say right now, but like I just knew I I knew.
00:12:25.370 --> 00:12:28.120 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: like I have a older brother who's
00:12:28.470 --> 00:12:47.280 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: all My brothers are over 6 feet but one of them like when I got my Ph. D. I have a picture of me jumping up on his back, you know, just like you know him loving me, and like the way all of my family came when I got my Ph. D. The way they've just supported me in so many ways, and so
00:12:47.300 --> 00:12:51.040 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I think people who are spoiled, rotten
00:12:51.050 --> 00:12:56.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: can sometimes end up being. It's all about me. Me, me.
00:12:58.510 --> 00:13:08.490 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and that's what I mean when I say i'm not spoil right. And so with that caveat, I would say Tel is not for rotten. you know, like she knows that
00:13:09.170 --> 00:13:26.470 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: she has to be sensitive and compassionate, and all of that to others. But but she she does sometimes take advantage, I would say, of she's rolling eyes, of of of things like, you know, when she might ask an aunt. Oh, could you do this for me?
00:13:26.680 --> 00:13:30.790 Angela Todd: So now that actually gives me so I want to be clear.
00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:44.400 Angela Todd: You're both the youngest child and your families, and you didn't let that slip in there, Carolyn. How many brothers and sisters do you have? And because this is women's history month, we gotta kind of prioritize those sisters slash aunties.
00:13:44.490 --> 00:13:47.860 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: so I have 7.
00:13:48.320 --> 00:14:06.140 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Well, I have 6 sisters, because I I make 7. So there are 7 girls and 3 boys, and then one sister is deceased. I still speak of her in the sense of I have, because she's still forever, forever, ever with me. So
00:14:06.420 --> 00:14:07.420 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: so
00:14:08.010 --> 00:14:21.440 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: yeah, in our family there tends to be more women in the family than men. Even when you look at nieces and nephews, they're just they're just more of it. So.
00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:39.930 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So there's definitely a difference between the women and the family and the men in the family, and and the way we refer to ourselves, even now as the boys and the girls, even though we're all fault now. But we still, you know we'll we'll speak in those terms.
00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:41.440 Angela Todd: so that's
00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:48.830 Angela Todd: 8 7 girls plus your mom makes 8. I almost call that a matriarchy.
00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:55.780 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Oh, definitely, it definitely definitely was, Look we, we.
00:14:56.400 --> 00:15:01.340 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: my mom. I was so. It's interesting because my mom and dad.
00:15:03.110 --> 00:15:07.580 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know my dad lived to 86, my mom to 94, and
00:15:07.590 --> 00:15:23.540 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: things did center around their house because we all lived there on what we call the curry compound. Right? You know My, there was our house, and then there's Sister's house, and then, cousin, how sister, have like like all of us there, and people would gather in that space.
00:15:23.540 --> 00:15:42.440 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know, to to go and sit with my mom or sit with my dad when we all come home. It's just a great. It's like the most beautiful beautiful feeling. And but but Mom was definitely yeah, he's she's make drive. There's there's no there's no doubt about that. That she was the matriarch
00:15:42.540 --> 00:15:44.820 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of our family, and that
00:15:45.110 --> 00:15:47.810 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Yes, we listen to that.
00:15:48.040 --> 00:15:48.860 Angela Todd: But
00:15:49.250 --> 00:15:58.330 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: it was mama that you really listen to. First of all, I have to add this mom was the disciplinarian.
00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.650 Angela Todd: Huh?
00:16:00.380 --> 00:16:01.440 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And
00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:11.180 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know this might be a cultural thing, too, because I grew up with hearing like on TV. The white people say, you just wait to your dad get home.
00:16:11.370 --> 00:16:14.200 Angela Todd: Hmm. Like when Dad gets home
00:16:14.790 --> 00:16:21.550 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: there. There was none of that I would have been more of like when Dad got home, Dad, please. So well.
00:16:21.660 --> 00:16:23.870 Angela Todd: You know I've been that kind of thing
00:16:24.010 --> 00:16:28.090 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because she that my mother could look at us.
00:16:28.820 --> 00:16:32.880 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and you better stop doing whatever it was you were doing, or
00:16:33.330 --> 00:16:37.830 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: if I was mouthing my father. God forbid!
00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:41.750 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: No! But as a teenager. If I was m my father.
00:16:42.130 --> 00:16:44.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: she would say that you, daddy.
00:16:47.640 --> 00:16:55.640 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: or or she would say to one of my sisters, she would say, now your father's already told you.
00:16:58.540 --> 00:17:04.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and we knew Don't make her have to tell us, and you know I was Had someone say to me.
00:17:05.210 --> 00:17:17.380 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Well, did that make you afraid of your mom. I was like no, I wasn't afraid of her. It just knew that you had to do what you were supposed to do because we were just encased in so much love.
00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:22.240 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: There's a consequence if you don't do what you're supposed to do. what's it?
00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:33.350 Angela Todd: So we just have a little bit until our next break. But when we do come back I want to ask teal it away in on the curry compound. Have you been there till it's still going
00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:35.080 Angela Todd: awesome.
00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:41.710 Angela Todd: And what you think about what your mom just said. And then we're going to turn to the sisters, because.
00:17:41.810 --> 00:18:01.010 Angela Todd: Carolyn, you've told me that your sisters were models for you, and then Tila after. So we're gonna talk about the curry compound, and then the sisters, and after Carolyn tells us her version. I want to hear what you have to say about all those aunties, because this is a rare opportunity to have these.
00:18:01.050 --> 00:18:04.270 Angela Todd: you know, really 4 generations represented.
00:18:04.290 --> 00:18:05.050 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Hmm.
00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:06.650 Angela Todd: So i'm excited.
00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:09.840 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: All right. Well, we'll be right back.
00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.180 www.TalkRadio.nyc: Excellent.
00:18:11.620 --> 00:18:12.250 Oh.
00:18:19.100 --> 00:18:19.740 Oh.
00:18:37.840 --> 00:18:50.280 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: well, we are right back on on the on air, and we're gonna be right back again after this commercial. We have to take a really really quick commercial break.
00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:09.700 one.
00:19:15.750 --> 00:19:23.390 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Well, we seem to be having a little bit of some technical difficulties. So, Angela, we gonna just jump right on back. Come here.
00:19:23.470 --> 00:19:35.180 Angela Todd: Excellent! The more time the better. I say. So we talked a little before the almost break about the curry compound. And, Tila, what's your experience of that?
00:19:35.270 --> 00:19:41.100 Angela Todd: So I know Carolyn grew up with all those sisters and cousins houses really in close proximity.
00:19:41.270 --> 00:19:43.040 Angela Todd: What was it like for you?
00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.830 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Unmute yourself?
00:19:46.560 --> 00:19:48.540 Teala Avery: I know I was.
00:19:52.340 --> 00:20:08.140 Teala Avery: I think, as I've grown, I've started to appreciate the curry compound, more like when I was younger it was like, okay, we're going to Mississippi. This environment is completely different from Connecticut, you know, completely different.
00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:18.410 Teala Avery: And when I was younger it was about like, oh, there's not really Wi-fi, and like you know, you're kind of just like sitting around. But as I've grown up.
00:20:18.830 --> 00:20:23.810 Teala Avery: I started to appreciate that more and not been so centered on like
00:20:23.910 --> 00:20:32.620 Teala Avery: technology and just learning to take the time to kind of just be with everyone and just
00:20:32.650 --> 00:20:42.130 Teala Avery: nurture those relationships, like, you know, popping in and out of the kitchen, or like laying on the couch when my grandma was watching her shows
00:20:42.430 --> 00:20:53.440 Teala Avery: and kind of just knowing that I can joke and laugh and smile with everyone. And also just watch the different dynamics that are happening within my family.
00:20:53.610 --> 00:21:03.240 Teala Avery: And so that's definitely something that I've grown to appreciate, and that I look forward to when I do visit Mississippi.
00:21:04.250 --> 00:21:07.440 Teala Avery: And yeah, I do think it's very special that
00:21:07.580 --> 00:21:20.560 Teala Avery: there are those like 4 houses, 4 or 5 houses down there that are all family, because it's like, okay, we're gonna walk across the Street, and then we're gonna go to on Evelyn's house.
00:21:20.970 --> 00:21:26.570 Teala Avery: Or Yeah, it's just really it's really a different.
00:21:29.210 --> 00:21:46.240 Teala Avery: It's just so. It's so different from living in Connecticut, and we just have this one house that I'm grateful for. But you know we don't have a lot of family in Connecticut, so to come to Mississippi and have everybody right there in this environment is really special.
00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:49.850 Angela Todd: That's awesome. Thank you.
00:21:50.170 --> 00:22:09.160 Angela Todd: Now let's move on to those sisters. So we counted 8 and the 8 girls counting your sisters right, and you You told me earlier, Carolyn, that they were models for me, and we talked a little about a couple of those sisters in specific, and what they're
00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:16.850 Angela Todd: activism or their like interface with racial injustice was. And I wonder if you'd be willing to tell your listeners about.
00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:21.300 Angela Todd: Yeah, you know it's interesting.
00:22:22.020 --> 00:22:33.020 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because sometimes it's just about watching people and what they do. And some of them are stories that I heard. You know we grew up in Mississippi, and
00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:42.100 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I was talking to one sister because I was. We're calling to you where a couple of my siblings actually slapped some white people.
00:22:42.230 --> 00:22:44.520 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know, and and
00:22:44.810 --> 00:22:51.200 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we were really saying we we could have gotten into some series, or they could have gotten into some serious trouble. But
00:22:51.970 --> 00:23:11.470 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: one of my sisters said to me like this boy was just on the bus, and I guess there was a girl that he liked on the bus, and she was sitting in the seat like the in between them, and he kept reaching over her head to tap the other girl to play with her. But he kept hitting her head, and she told him to stop.
00:23:11.550 --> 00:23:12.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and he didn't.
00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:27.820 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and so she slapped him. Now she did go to the principal's office. She said. So. How old are they? I I thought they were adults at that time.
00:23:28.290 --> 00:23:32.290 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: but the thing of it is she still could have gotten into trouble
00:23:32.300 --> 00:23:36.620 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: for doing that like more trouble than she did.
00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:39.140 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: slapping a a white kid.
00:23:39.190 --> 00:23:40.050 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: right?
00:23:40.060 --> 00:23:47.890 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And I had another system. I forgot to ask her about this before the show started. Who, I also know, slapped someone else.
00:23:48.010 --> 00:23:51.870 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I had a sister that I didn't know about until later.
00:23:52.750 --> 00:24:00.700 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: when there was a march, a Civil Rights march in the town. She actually went to the march.
00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:02.830 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I think she missed school
00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:05.180 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to go to to the march.
00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:10.600 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and I think we found out at my father's funeral
00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:26.560 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that he actually had been there watching her. She I don't know that she knew that, but he went to watch her at a distance, because I think it was High Schoolers who were doing the march. I'm not sure. But he definitely, you know, was there to make sure that she was gonna be
00:24:26.730 --> 00:24:30.530 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: okay. And he said, Well, you know, because I knew that there's no stop at her.
00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:33.390 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: If she was going to do it she was gonna do it right.
00:24:33.520 --> 00:24:36.590 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And I think that the reason why
00:24:39.050 --> 00:24:44.030 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: those things are significant to me because it's about standing up for yourself
00:24:44.060 --> 00:24:49.900 Angela Todd: right? And so my older sister. Well, my second oldest sister, I remember
00:24:50.190 --> 00:25:07.040 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: her leaving Mississippi, and you know several of us, you know, followed along and lived in the area where she lived in after we got older, and I remember some of the experiences that she talked about, even at work or in her neighborhood.
00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:16.420 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I think if i'm not mistaken, I'm remembering this now, somebody through a rock through her window. And, to be honest with you.
00:25:17.410 --> 00:25:24.060 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: my siblings have shared with me that They've had more issues with racism in the North
00:25:24.120 --> 00:25:29.370 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: than they ever did when we grew up in the South. You know we lived in North Mississippi.
00:25:30.210 --> 00:25:41.230 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: which was different from the Delta, where Fanny Little Hammer grew up right. It was a little bit different from that, so there were, indeed, some experiences to happen that
00:25:42.490 --> 00:25:46.200 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: could have caused us some issues.
00:25:46.370 --> 00:25:54.050 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: There's some with the boys or or the men in my family, but we won't. Go to them today because we're talking about women's history. But
00:25:54.740 --> 00:26:06.960 Angela Todd: so one of the things I wanted to ask you then about some of these stories I haven't heard before. So when your sister had a rock throne through her window. What was her response to that?
00:26:08.070 --> 00:26:17.250 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: If I can remember correctly, I think she was walking down the street with something in her hand to look for people with from the rock.
00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:30.170 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and if i'm not mistaken, a good friend of hers was like. Get yourself back in my house. Because what are you gonna do when you find that right? So it's about
00:26:30.580 --> 00:26:34.880 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: being strategic in the ways in which
00:26:35.260 --> 00:26:37.270 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you fight back
00:26:37.540 --> 00:26:38.250 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: right?
00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:46.810 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Because think about it if it's a group of people, or if it's one or 2, and they and they have the audacity to throw a rock in your house.
00:26:47.910 --> 00:27:02.070 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: What might they do if you find them? And what might you do? See, that's the other thing about dismantling racism. You always have to think about your goal, your goal isn't to beat another person to a Po.
00:27:02.430 --> 00:27:10.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But it's really to do something that's going to change the system. Your goal isn't to do something that's going to land you in jail.
00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:12.740 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because that would serve a purpose.
00:27:14.520 --> 00:27:16.920 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So we have to be strategic with what we do
00:27:17.840 --> 00:27:21.960 Angela Todd: right. So now I want to turn to Tila. Did you know these stories?
00:27:25.250 --> 00:27:30.260 Teala Avery: I knew some of them? I didn't know about the rock being thrown through the window.
00:27:30.470 --> 00:27:37.130 Teala Avery: or that my grandpa went to watch my aunt at a protest.
00:27:37.210 --> 00:27:43.140 Teala Avery: I do believe I know that she went. but I didn't know, like the slapping story.
00:27:43.230 --> 00:27:44.730 Teala Avery: Yeah.
00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:55.500 Angela Todd: And so how do those stories inform each of you, and how you move forward, and what you think is important, where you want to stand up, where you want to
00:27:56.110 --> 00:27:58.260 Angela Todd: push back where you wanna
00:27:58.310 --> 00:28:00.750 Angela Todd: show yourself or not
00:28:00.830 --> 00:28:01.560 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You.
00:28:03.020 --> 00:28:06.470 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I think.
00:28:06.510 --> 00:28:09.350 Teala Avery: Go ahead. Okay. I think
00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:12.310 Teala Avery: it's almost like
00:28:12.670 --> 00:28:26.300 Teala Avery: listening to those stories is almost like a life lesson and multiple categories. I think, as I navigate like relationships and situations in college, it's just knowing
00:28:26.430 --> 00:28:31.280 Teala Avery: where to give my energy for certain things.
00:28:31.650 --> 00:28:35.880 Teala Avery: and how to approach certain things like if there's
00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:51.480 Teala Avery: like a small problem or something that might have bothered me to know whether it's worth my energy. And if it's something that I really want to bring up to that person, or if it's something that I really feel like would help me in
00:28:51.540 --> 00:28:57.640 Teala Avery: bringing it up. just knowing where to put that energy and also how to approach that situation.
00:29:01.870 --> 00:29:13.440 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Yeah, I think maybe i'll. I will hold my answer to after the break. If that's not good with you, Angelou, we'll be back with the Dismantle Racism show.
00:29:15.040 --> 00:29:36.680 Are you passionate about the conversation around racism? Hi I'm Reverend Dr. Tlc. Host of the Dismantle Racism show which airs every Thursday at 11 a. M. Eastern on talk radio, Dot Nyc join me and my amazing guest as we discuss ways to uncover, dismantle and eradicate racism.
00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:41.960 That's Thursdays at 110'clock a. M. On talk Radio Nyc.
00:29:44.290 --> 00:30:12.370 www.TalkRadio.nyc: in that post movement. World you may have many unanswered questions regarding your health. Are you looking to live a healthier lifestyle? Do you have a desire to learn more about mental health and enhance your quality of life? Or do you just want to participate in self-understanding and awareness I'm Frank R Harrison, host of Frank about health and each Thursday I will tackle these questions and work to enlighten you. Tune in every Thursday 5 P. M. On talk radio and Nyc. And I will be frank about help to advocate for all of us.
00:30:17.650 --> 00:30:41.720 Hey, Buddy, it's Tommy. Gee, the nonprofit sector connector coming at you from my attic each week here on talk radio that Nyc: I hosted program for lambda game focus. Non-profits impact us each and every day and it's my focus to help them amplify their message and tell their story. Listen: each week at 10 a. M. Eastern Standard time right here on talk radio, Dot: Nyc.
00:30:42.800 --> 00:30:50.850 You're listening to talk radio and Yc: at Www: talk radio now broadcasting 24
00:30:52.300 --> 00:30:53.180 the
00:31:00.030 --> 00:31:00.690 Oh!
00:31:15.810 --> 00:31:29.070 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So we're back with the dismantle Racism show If you're joining us today, the guest interviewer is Angela Todd. and we've been talking about what made me who I am, and before the break you had a question for me.
00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:38.520 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Angela. I think, around how my sisters have modeled for me how it's influenced the work that I do.
00:31:38.530 --> 00:31:45.340 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So I do want to just say what I've learned from my sisters, and I think that
00:31:45.490 --> 00:31:52.830 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: i'm, i'm echoing. What Tila is saying is that there is a time and a place in a way
00:31:54.060 --> 00:31:59.540 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to bring about change when they were younger. Perhaps maybe they did slap
00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:03.570 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: someone, but that wouldn't be what they would do. Now
00:32:04.430 --> 00:32:08.160 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I think we learn from our parents to sit back
00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:11.300 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and to be reflective as well
00:32:11.520 --> 00:32:15.970 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: about what we do. and then we figure out
00:32:17.870 --> 00:32:24.560 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the larger picture. As I was saying before, so I don't really think the work that I do speaks for
00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:37.500 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: what I learned when I was growing up in what I learned in my younger years, from seeing my sister's navigate environments that were not always
00:32:38.210 --> 00:32:46.070 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: kind to people of color, particularly, i'd want to say as women right there's the there's the double.
00:32:46.110 --> 00:32:49.160 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So the stories that I heard
00:32:49.320 --> 00:32:54.040 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: about the racism that they experienced, informed
00:32:54.890 --> 00:32:59.330 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: how I moved throughout the world at that, you know.
00:32:59.610 --> 00:33:02.750 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: particularly when I was in more white spaces.
00:33:02.840 --> 00:33:06.280 Angela Todd: and it really just informs
00:33:06.470 --> 00:33:25.640 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the work that I do now now. So it's interesting because we haven't really talked about my mom. I know you're gonna ask me about her as well. But one of the things I told you in preparation for this there's almost no separation between my mom and my sisters in terms of the ways in which we show up in the world.
00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:35.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because quite frankly, whatever we do in this world. So first and foremost, i'm not going to do anything that's going to
00:33:35.820 --> 00:33:41.110 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: yeah dishonor who I am as a child of God.
00:33:41.210 --> 00:33:45.610 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But i'm certainly not going to do anything that's going to dishonor
00:33:46.210 --> 00:33:51.730 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: my lineage and my mother or my father, or
00:33:52.250 --> 00:33:56.100 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: even the grandparents. I didn't know i'm not going to do that.
00:33:56.150 --> 00:33:59.520 because I know what they instilled in me, and
00:33:59.530 --> 00:34:02.070 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know I have an obligation to that.
00:34:02.810 --> 00:34:15.760 Angela Todd: So, Tila, I see you nodding along to that, and I wonder if that's maintained its strength into the next generation. Or if you feel like you have a little bit of distance from it like, how does that feel to you to hear your mother say that?
00:34:18.949 --> 00:34:22.429 Teala Avery: Well, I think it's interesting because
00:34:24.210 --> 00:34:35.050 Teala Avery: it almost feels like I have some distance from it, just because, you know, like I said, we grew up in Connecticut, and we would visit a
00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:40.340 Teala Avery: maybe like once or twice a year when I was growing up.
00:34:41.050 --> 00:34:42.190 Teala Avery: So.
00:34:43.080 --> 00:35:01.380 Teala Avery: even though I spent time with my grandparents, i'm learning a lot about them through my aunts and uncles, and I know with the passion, and then obviously my mom. But I know with the passion that they talk about my grandparents that
00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:12.530 Teala Avery: i'm able to feel that as well, even though it's I didn't grow up like right underneath my grandparents. And so i'm nodding because
00:35:13.090 --> 00:35:20.790 Teala Avery: i'm about to go overseas to study abroad, and so I was nodding, because
00:35:20.950 --> 00:35:35.220 Teala Avery: that will be its own unique situation, like I was saying before knowing where to put my energy for certain things. I'm sure I will be experiencing some biases and some
00:35:35.430 --> 00:35:54.110 Teala Avery: maybe some prejudice. And so it's wondering when to have that conversation, how to have that conversation, and knowing that by acting a certain way, I'm. Not only representing the communities i'm a part of, but also my family as well. So
00:35:54.350 --> 00:36:03.870 Teala Avery: as my mom was saying, that it's like realizing that's something that I need to keep in mind as i'm abroad. And also as i'm here as well.
00:36:04.080 --> 00:36:19.420 Angela Todd: right. And so thinking back to those 7 Sisters. And of course I know that you're digitally tight, that there's texting and zooming and calling, and whatever. So what is that like to feel like You've got the matriarchy?
00:36:19.630 --> 00:36:25.240 Angela Todd: What? Looking over your shoulder full, you know, gently guiding you like. How is that to have that
00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:28.220 Angela Todd: really throng of women
00:36:28.450 --> 00:36:30.410 Angela Todd: in your life.
00:36:32.590 --> 00:36:37.760 Teala Avery: It's something that I I feel like I need to.
00:36:38.540 --> 00:36:49.370 Teala Avery: I know sometimes, like you don't realize things until you're older. But i'm like I want to fully realize this. Now. You know, if that makes sense, I want to utilize the
00:36:50.640 --> 00:37:00.890 Teala Avery: like, the i'm not sure the word. I want to realize the benefits I guess you could say. And just
00:37:02.060 --> 00:37:05.160 Teala Avery: specialness is not a word. But I'm.
00:37:06.770 --> 00:37:12.680 Teala Avery: Yeah, I yeah. And so
00:37:13.390 --> 00:37:22.550 Teala Avery: it really is like it really is special. And so i'm sorry. Repeat your repeat the last part of your questions for me.
00:37:22.890 --> 00:37:34.310 Angela Todd: Well, I was wondering, having all the you know the throng of women. I have a bunch of odds, and it can be awesome, and it can be a little bit so I wonder it felt like a little bit like
00:37:34.560 --> 00:37:41.400 Angela Todd: surveillance, or supported, or both, or something completely different. You know there's a there's a lot to.
00:37:41.660 --> 00:37:50.280 Angela Todd: There's a lot in that generation. I feel I haven't met them all. But I've been a couple, and you know they are powerhouse women.
00:37:50.390 --> 00:37:51.870 Teala Avery: I definitely.
00:37:52.020 --> 00:37:59.140 Teala Avery: I definitely feel support more than surveillance, and I know if there is surveillance it's
00:37:59.430 --> 00:38:21.420 Teala Avery: with my health and safety in mind. But my aunts have, like always, always always been supportive. We've seen my aunts in the Dmb. Area more often than my family in Mississippi. But even with my aunts and family in Mississippi, I still feel that love every time I see them as if I see them every single day.
00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:33.620 Teala Avery: and to know that my actions can make them smile does make my heart feel very, very warm, cause it's like oh, like, of course they love me type thing, and I think, as I was saying before.
00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:37.950 Teala Avery: their support is something that I want to
00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:40.560 Teala Avery: really
00:38:41.900 --> 00:39:04.040 Teala Avery: tap into more as I'm going through these life lessons in college, because it I know oftentimes it can feel like. oh, like I have my friends, and like I have my mom, my sister. But it's also knowing that I have my aunts to call on, because they've had experiences as well, and not just that. But like when i'm down there, it's like.
00:39:04.430 --> 00:39:15.520 Teala Avery: okay, If i'm having this issue, I know that I can talk to them about it and get some help with that. So it really is something special that I need to
00:39:16.220 --> 00:39:18.150 Teala Avery: really tap into
00:39:18.450 --> 00:39:20.490 Teala Avery: in this next few years.
00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:24.820 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And what are your thoughts. Just message me. I'm smiling now.
00:39:24.820 --> 00:39:43.210 Angela Todd: Oh, they are surveilling well. But but, Angela, truth be told, we often, when you come from a big family, of course there's surveillance like in terms of
00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:52.540 Angela Todd: right, you know they're watching me, and they'll report me to My! But I didn't know if that held down to the next generation.
00:39:52.670 --> 00:39:54.420 Oh, well.
00:39:54.900 --> 00:39:58.000 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I will say this. We're in each others
00:39:58.400 --> 00:40:09.860 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: business. I'll put it like that, and and so I I I can't answer for t of them, but they, I think they do know, especially their aunts and the Dmv. They do know
00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:28.380 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that they're watching them and supporting them, and they're proud of them, and they I I believe they know that what they do matters because they aunts would say something, you know, one way or the other. Even even one will say, Well, I'm not gonna say anything, but you know. So
00:40:28.380 --> 00:40:30.250 I but here's the thing.
00:40:31.570 --> 00:40:45.140 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I remember once there was a situation that was happening in in our family of of like the like with me and the girls, or whatever, and there was some support we needed for something.
00:40:45.650 --> 00:40:50.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and I absolutely waited until the last minute
00:40:51.040 --> 00:41:03.580 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to ask one of my sisters, because it was a financial support that I needed. I just felt like I don't. I don't want to. I don't want to like i'm a certain age. I want to be able to do this all on my own blog.
00:41:04.770 --> 00:41:06.920 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and my sister.
00:41:07.080 --> 00:41:13.230 Angela Todd: When I ask her, she says, why did you wait to the last minute? Because I waited to the I mean I weed
00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:18.590 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: hour 10,000. Whatever the saying is, Why did you wait until the last minute
00:41:18.780 --> 00:41:32.160 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to ask me? Because now I have to do this is this like? If you would ask me I could, so she she said that, but it wasn't a complaint about offering the financial support. It was what she needed to do with her own finances
00:41:32.220 --> 00:41:34.730 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to make sure it happen.
00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:39.680 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And I remember Tila. I don't know if she will remember this, but
00:41:40.010 --> 00:41:42.800 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: after that she just kind of said man
00:41:42.810 --> 00:41:54.980 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: like it is so great something to this effect to know that we have our like. Our aunties love us. They really really support us. And so she I just remember how it
00:41:54.980 --> 00:42:04.880 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: like the smile that was on, and it wasn't even for her necessarily that think it was for the other daughter at at the time something that was going on with her. So
00:42:05.510 --> 00:42:08.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know they're modeling.
00:42:10.060 --> 00:42:18.400 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: They're modeling of even how to take care of. You see one of the things that happened with my mother and father
00:42:18.680 --> 00:42:23.370 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: teaching us. We had a responsibility to want another.
00:42:23.500 --> 00:42:30.070 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I don't ever have to change the diapers and do all that all that stuff, but they were all responsible.
00:42:30.100 --> 00:42:36.320 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Who would be the whole? Just what possible coming down right? But there was because they
00:42:37.380 --> 00:42:38.850 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we're so loving
00:42:38.970 --> 00:42:46.740 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and taken care of. It's taught me to be that, Angela. So that's why I can go out into the world
00:42:46.980 --> 00:42:48.720 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So that's the modeling
00:42:48.780 --> 00:42:53.690 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I can pour in the world because of what has been poured into me.
00:42:54.520 --> 00:43:01.530 Angela Todd: So we have 2 min to the break. I don't know if we have time for this. But, Tila. I wonder if you'd talk a little bit about
00:43:02.110 --> 00:43:16.180 Angela Todd: your mother's power in terms of I know that you all went to a march. The leader either wasn't there, or got shy at the last minute, and you and your sister Ruby both, said Mom. Get started, Mom, get it started.
00:43:16.340 --> 00:43:27.640 Angela Todd: and I feel like this is a good way to bring this history into a culminating point, and I wonder if you'd say a few words about Why? Why did you think she should do it.
00:43:28.260 --> 00:43:32.710 Teala Avery: I definitely think that's something I can address after the break.
00:43:32.720 --> 00:43:39.100 Teala Avery: just to get into it a bit more. But I was gonna jump in there before, and say that
00:43:39.370 --> 00:43:50.500 Teala Avery: even with my aunt it's hearing about how they've been supportive like years ago within the family. Sometimes it does feel like
00:43:50.890 --> 00:44:02.680 Teala Avery: Oh, my gosh! Like that feels like so long ago. There's no way that could happen now, but of like aunts traveling because this happened, and somebody had a kid, but it's really like.
00:44:02.680 --> 00:44:18.110 Teala Avery: I know, if i'm down here in Georgia, and I call my aunt, and i'm like, you know, if you could come and visit like that'd be really nice. I'm sure within the next week or 2 that they would be making plans to come. And so
00:44:18.770 --> 00:44:21.070 Teala Avery: again, it's really just
00:44:21.330 --> 00:44:23.160 Teala Avery: tapping into
00:44:23.200 --> 00:44:39.370 Teala Avery: that well of love, and knowing that that's there, because I know I seek support for my close friends and my immediate family. But it's like that support feels really nice coming from my aunts, no matter what as well.
00:44:39.370 --> 00:44:45.690 Teala Avery: And that's just something that I need to realize for myself. But I can definitely address
00:44:45.710 --> 00:45:00.150 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that question after the break. And so I want to say something really quick before the break, because I know our time is gonna be very short when we come back. You ask about the age of the person at the slap, you know, if they were 15 or 16,
00:45:00.190 --> 00:45:10.380 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: right, so I just wanted to share that with the audience, and then we are going to be right back for a final segment of Today's show. We'll be right back.
00:45:13.610 --> 00:45:37.510 Everybody. It's Tommy Dean and non-profit sector connector coming at you from my attic each week here on talk radio and Ny: Z. I hosted program the lab of being focused nonprofits in cocktails each and every day, and it's my focus to help them amplify their message and tell their story. Listen: Each week at 10 a M. Eastern standard time until 11. A. M. Is from standard time right here on talk radio, dot Nyc
00:45:38.300 --> 00:46:06.310 www.TalkRadio.nyc: In that post- movement world you may have many unanswered questions regarding your health. Are you looking to live a healthier lifestyle? Do you have a desire to learn more about mental health and enhance your quality of life? Or do you just want to participate in self-understanding and awareness? I'm Frank r Harrison host of Frank about health? And each Thursday I will tackle these questions and work to enlighten you. Tune in everyday 5 P. M. On talk radio and Nyc. And I will be frank about help to advocate for all of us.
00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:40.140 You, a conscious Co-creator. Are you on a quest to raise your vibration and your consciousness I'm. Sam Leibowitz, your conscious consultant, and on my show, the conscious consultant hour awakening humanity. We will touch upon all these topics and more. Listen. Live at our new time on Thursdays, at 12 noon. Eastern time. That's the conscious consultant hour awakening humanity. Thursday's 12 noon on Talk Radio Nyc.
00:46:44.520 --> 00:46:54.450 You're listening to talk radio, Nyc: at Www: top Radio and Yc. Now broadcasting 24 h a day.
00:47:00.450 --> 00:47:01.080 Oh.
00:47:08.610 --> 00:47:09.490 I
00:47:12.580 --> 00:47:13.470 I
00:47:17.250 --> 00:47:19.030 Angela Todd: Okay, we're back.
00:47:19.040 --> 00:47:31.280 Angela Todd: I'm Angela Todd, archivist and friend to Dr. Cheryl and Curry Avery, and we have the inimitable Tela Avery, Dr. Currie Avery's daughter with us today. We've been talking about
00:47:31.380 --> 00:47:40.610 Angela Todd: the matriarchy behind Carolyn's work because it's women's history month. She does have men and her family. But we're concentrating on the women today.
00:47:41.190 --> 00:47:49.090 Angela Todd: So, Tila comment, if you would on that last question that we had been discussing before the break.
00:47:51.290 --> 00:48:10.510 Teala Avery: Yes, so when we went to that march I do tell that story to my friends. I'm very grateful that my mom was able to join us, because I remember that day my sister and I were heading out the door, and then my mom was like, actually, my girls are about to go to their first march. So I would love to join them.
00:48:10.510 --> 00:48:19.830 Teala Avery: And that was what year? And shortly after the George Floyd murder. Right? Yeah. So that was 2020.
00:48:20.850 --> 00:48:27.490 Teala Avery: Yeah. During the summer time we were wearing our mask and everything, and it was outdoors.
00:48:27.890 --> 00:48:29.200 Teala Avery: But
00:48:29.630 --> 00:48:40.040 Teala Avery: yes, so it was about an hour away, and that was a special day, because you know. my sister and I, we were heading there, and so the reason that
00:48:40.260 --> 00:48:48.450 Teala Avery: I was telling my mom like you should go up. There is because, first of all, we were all just standing around for like quite some time, and
00:48:49.200 --> 00:48:58.680 Teala Avery: it's just been a lifetime. I was probably 18 at that point. It's just been a lifetime of seeing my mom publicly speak.
00:48:58.690 --> 00:49:04.670 Teala Avery: whether that's in church, or whether that's on in race related events.
00:49:04.870 --> 00:49:23.160 Teala Avery: because when we were younger we would just like go to the event with her, that she might have been hosting in the community, or doing something so always like hearing it either front row or in the background, and then, of course, traveling to New York every weekend to see her preach. So it's been a lot of
00:49:23.260 --> 00:49:29.760 Teala Avery: public speaking on my mom's part. And so, as we were there at this protest that isn't really
00:49:30.280 --> 00:49:36.190 Teala Avery: getting started, we were just like, Why, don't you just go up there and start like
00:49:36.230 --> 00:49:45.470 Teala Avery: start something I don't know. Come up with something to say, and because she was up there, and she started her preaching, and it was good preaching.
00:49:45.760 --> 00:49:48.760 Teala Avery: Well, I don't know who is preaching, but i'll say preaching
00:49:50.520 --> 00:49:52.350 Teala Avery: after that everyone
00:49:52.880 --> 00:50:12.860 Teala Avery: kind of just started like coming into the circle and like sharing things that were weighing on them, maybe sharing their art. And I think, even though it wasn't like a okay, we're marching type thing. I think it was really special to get that inspiration and kind of hear from people in the community what's going on? And
00:50:13.020 --> 00:50:16.220 Teala Avery: I think that's really special and almost like a
00:50:16.780 --> 00:50:23.100 Teala Avery: badge. I can wear it because i'm like oh, my mom really started to facilitate that, because
00:50:23.730 --> 00:50:28.500 Teala Avery: it was just. I thought it would be a great moment for her to show up.
00:50:28.710 --> 00:50:31.260 Angela Todd: Yeah, and it sounds like it was.
00:50:31.710 --> 00:50:40.770 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Yes, and and and here is the thing when we talk about how everything just runs right like a string that runs through it.
00:50:40.900 --> 00:50:43.240 What it taught me in that moment
00:50:43.330 --> 00:50:58.870 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: was so. First of all, my girls are always watching. but the legacy that I'm leaving for them is that they can do this too, and I don't even know if they know this. I think they know this, because, you know, they've read the book.
00:50:59.800 --> 00:51:09.720 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: That March was great in terms of what happened and what we were able to do, and people, you know, sharing and all of that.
00:51:09.760 --> 00:51:24.210 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But the greatest thing in the world was when they said, that's my mom up there. I'd be like literally for days I that just kept ringing in my head, and I would smile because they were like that's my mom up there.
00:51:24.830 --> 00:51:27.280 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: so what we do matters.
00:51:27.610 --> 00:51:29.030 and we can think
00:51:29.050 --> 00:51:30.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that it does it.
00:51:30.780 --> 00:51:33.890 Angela Todd: Yes, so what if I didn't stand up that day?
00:51:34.590 --> 00:51:37.940 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: What if I just decided like I initially said I,
00:51:38.060 --> 00:51:49.500 I didn't organize this I had just preached, which is why they were going by themselves, because I was preaching virtually, and I thought they were going to leave before my service was over. I had had a full
00:51:49.580 --> 00:51:50.950 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: morning already.
00:51:51.460 --> 00:51:59.880 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and had it even said to them, we're not getting up there in the middle of everybody, because Covid is still going. And then there I was, right there in the middle.
00:52:00.150 --> 00:52:01.470 Okay.
00:52:01.740 --> 00:52:07.110 Teala Avery: I was very proud, for i'm still very proud, but it after that day was like.
00:52:07.960 --> 00:52:22.060 Teala Avery: It's just very special to like. See my mom go up there and do something that takes a lot of courage, even though she has been in the public eye with public speaking. But that was very
00:52:22.290 --> 00:52:23.950 Teala Avery: yeah. She got the crowd.
00:52:24.360 --> 00:52:30.210 Teala Avery: Yeah. Her usual public speaking is in the really controlled environment. Right?
00:52:30.280 --> 00:52:36.800 Angela Todd: So I want to move us from Tela's mother to Carolyn's mother.
00:52:36.830 --> 00:52:41.120 Angela Todd: Because I don't want this episode to close without talking about Elmira
00:52:41.540 --> 00:52:54.660 Angela Todd: and one of the stories that I've heard about her is that back in the day when everybody was in Mississippi, there was a really poor white family that lived nearby, that called one of your brothers, the n word
00:52:54.770 --> 00:52:57.520 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: your nephew.
00:52:57.630 --> 00:53:05.730 Angela Todd: And I wonder if you would tell us the rest of that story until I don't know if you've heard it, and if you want to comment, please jump in as she tells it.
00:53:06.550 --> 00:53:12.520 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So this family was poor and illiterate as well, so that that
00:53:12.950 --> 00:53:26.360 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: wanted to just give you context for them, but yet still thought they were better than we were. And so the my nephew was playing with the grandson of
00:53:28.070 --> 00:53:29.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of the family.
00:53:29.500 --> 00:53:38.840 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and I don't know what happened, and I don't know if he had him. I did something they called him the N word then came to our house to use the telephone
00:53:39.100 --> 00:53:40.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to call the sheriff.
00:53:40.680 --> 00:53:53.800 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: This this is how I knew that she called him that because she's standing in our house to use the the phone, and she says to the sheriff that she wanted him to come down to arrest my nephew.
00:53:54.230 --> 00:53:59.050 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the in word, who hit her grandson right now. My nephew was like 2
00:53:59.120 --> 00:54:01.860 or a 3 or something right like
00:54:02.570 --> 00:54:09.540 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: so actually, I don't even know why he would have been up there playing with them. But that's all another story, because I don't I don't can't remember that.
00:54:09.550 --> 00:54:17.420 So So my cousin was down from the North. My auntie from next door was there, and she
00:54:17.460 --> 00:54:24.140 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: she lost it. She was like what But how dare you come to our house and call it cops on.
00:54:24.220 --> 00:54:33.980 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You know that this her it's her nephew right, and she was ready to lay in to this woman. But, my cousin
00:54:34.060 --> 00:54:47.990 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: well, so here's things. So my cousin from the North said she can't even tell the police how to get here, so don't even worry. So we told our mom when we got home that day my mom was just cool and calm about it, and she just basically said, Well, they don't know any better.
00:54:48.120 --> 00:54:54.380 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So when that lady came down or said to her kid down a couple of days later to borrow some sugar from us.
00:54:54.610 --> 00:54:56.460 What did you think my mother did?
00:54:56.770 --> 00:54:58.130 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: She gave her sugar.
00:54:58.540 --> 00:55:11.090 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because my mother understood that she absolutely didn't know any better, and she wasn't going to let somebody else change who she was, and that's the other thing about dismantling racism.
00:55:12.050 --> 00:55:15.070 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We get to decide how we're going to respond
00:55:15.350 --> 00:55:22.180 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: again. My, my siblings, who slap someone. We're not violent people or abusive people
00:55:22.210 --> 00:55:25.650 Angela Todd: at all. Well, they were in Junior 5 right
00:55:25.740 --> 00:55:34.880 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: right like, you know, whatever 1516. But what but the point is this when we're in this fight to dismantle racism, and we only got 2 min left.
00:55:34.910 --> 00:55:41.760 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We can't let other people change who we are, and that's why we have to be informed
00:55:42.180 --> 00:55:46.180 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of the situation. We have to get our emotions in check
00:55:46.630 --> 00:55:47.410 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: right.
00:55:47.980 --> 00:55:55.650 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and then we have to respond to situations and not react.
00:55:56.470 --> 00:56:00.720 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And because of who my mother was my mother.
00:56:01.300 --> 00:56:10.080 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: People all over. Just remember my mother and and I've shared this with you, Angela. My mother died at 94,
00:56:10.530 --> 00:56:11.700 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and I have.
00:56:11.710 --> 00:56:28.300 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know, Mention this to several people. My mother had over 200 people at her wake, and about 300 people at her funeral. That doesn't happen so often when you're at 94 right. But the but the fact of the matter is
00:56:28.390 --> 00:56:37.420 Angela Todd: she was left. Yes, we have 1 min left. And I actually want Tila to close this out if you're willing to. And just talk about
00:56:38.250 --> 00:56:40.070 Angela Todd: how you see this
00:56:40.560 --> 00:56:56.910 Angela Todd: matriarchy. Let's call it informing your place in the world, let's say so. I don't know if you're I don't know you that. Well, I don't know what your activism or social justice work is like, or if it's really more of a lifestyle, you know. I think the next generation, Carolyn.
00:56:57.150 --> 00:57:10.170 Angela Todd: it's different.
00:57:10.380 --> 00:57:12.970 Teala Avery: I can just short little answer.
00:57:13.400 --> 00:57:40.890 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We might have to come back for another episode. I want to thank you and Todd for again another brilliant interview. I want to thank you, Tila Avery, for being on the show, and I want to thank you, our listeners, that those of you who were chining in during the show, please, Don't, forget to subscribe to the show and tell others about the show, and stay, too, for the Sam with show where he helps you to walk through life with the greatest of ease and joy
00:57:40.930 --> 00:57:46.360 until next time be well be safe and be encouraged by, for now
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