Not too long ago, I lost my mother. The end of 2016 to be exact. And, in that time, I also lost my youngest son and both my older and younger brothers. Within that time, I have had to introduce myself to grief and become very familiar with it. It's a lot easier to "deal" with something you've gotten to know. *sips coffee*.
I'm currently sitting in the parking lot of Lowe's waiting on my daughter to get off of work so I have a little time to take the long way around to my approach to the 'why' I travel the way I do and why I chose Europe as my next destination to celebrate my birthday and explore.
Grief is funny in the sense that you are introduced to truly feeling a mirage of different things. Not just emotions but things that change you mentally, physically, and psychologically. I know I am different. And, arguably, not in a good way.
My methods of coping aren't as destructive as promiscuity, alcohol or drugs but destructive in the sense that most all my relationships suffer. They suffer the most in comparison to just about anything I put against it. And, I don't see that changing any time soon with or without therapy. I tend to isolate myself from anything that reminds me of the life I had back home in Houston and when Tampa begins to fell too familiar, I hop on a flight to a foreign country and just... exist.
Let's make it make it make sense.
I am 100% dedicated to building a solid sewing/fabric community that aims to expose little black boys and girls to textiles from around the globe. It was an epiphany I had laying on my back in a hotel staring at the ceiling wondering how I can incorporate all of the fantastic finds I make while in these small, vintage cities in places who's names I probably won't remember. Unless I write about them.
My next stop is Europe, More specifically, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, and London. This trip is scheduled for 3 weeks and each place holds some significance to my blackness and my fire for the culture and it's textiles.
So, Portugal, girl, is this you?
Portugal, was somewhat of pioneers of slavery. They mainly operated in trade with what is known today in West Africa as Benin, Nigeria.
In the triangular trade, Portugal traded ivory, pepper, and textiles, mainly cotton and silk for prisoners of war between tribes in Nigeria. The people were sent to America where they were forced into labor, picking and producing cotton, to be sent to Portugal and used for trading and bartering.
Reflecting on how Africans benefited from slavery in more ways than one has me thinking off track beyond the evolution of cotton in Portugal and more into the lasting mindset and imprint the triangular trade had on Lisbon and Benin. 🇵🇹🇧🇯🇺🇸
What did the receivers of the traded textiles make with the fabric? What lasting imprint is still present in Benin? We are familiar with cotton and the sensitivities left behind in the US. Michael’s faced backlash a few years back when they sold unrefined cotton as household decorations. The outcome led to a number of think pieces and necessary conversations surrounding the topic cotton and its connections and significances to slavery.
When visiting Portugal, will there be microagressions I'll have to be aware of and will that in some way impact my safety as a solo traveler? I am so excited for this trip for many reasons to include touching and purchasing Portuguese cotton and silk to bring home to my students and to used while navigating the wonderful world of sewing and blanket making.
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