Tu Madre

Happy Mamma's Day to All My Girls. The holiday's spiritual history dates back to ancient Kemet (aka Egypt). The celebration of the African Goddess Isis as the original mother of mothers of the pharonic line transforms and translates to others as well. Popular culture attributes the holiday's origin to the Greeks celebrating Rhea and the Roman Cybele as the first observed holiday. Most images on cards, web sites and magazines picture a European-type woman with suckling child, which is a striking resemblance to Isis cradling her infant son Horus. Why the sublimal erasure of history venerating women of color? "Bom-chika-wom-wom"-- the "Dozens" is a trope, figure of speech, or game of verbal sparring. It also refers to slaves who were auctioned by the dozen because they were elders or were mentally compromised. Rooted in west African traditions, during slavery playing the Dozens becomes a highly developed language arts skill, especially when it came to "Yo Mama" or "Tu Madre." Making a verbal come back when someone insults "yo mama" is a sign of wisdom, social grace and advanced mental wit, necessary for survival in a society where mothers, aunts, grandmothers and sisters could be beaten, raped or sold on a whim. As previously noted in his sketch, LDB mentions his mother Hannah's father (Palice Abrutas Darram) and his two children who were stolen from Africa and sold into slavery. He doesn't mention his grndfather Darram's wife nor her fate. Was she killed during a village raid? Raped on the slave ship that brought her to the Caribbean? Did she commit suicide or die from one of the infectious diseases in the ship's hull? Whatever her fate, Mama Darram, I celebrate your ancestral presence and all other women who work endlessly to protect thier family and extended family today.