The continued investigation of inspiration, life, and memory through “Migration Stories.”
Ethel Moore
Native of Mississippi, and resident of North Saint Louis County. Ethel Moore has lived a full life of fun, enjoying family and being a caregiver for her mother and others. She collects elephant figurines from across the world.
Ethel Moore left Mississippi at a young age because she wanted more out of life than picking cotton. She moved to Chicago and later Saint Louis, to be close to other migrated family, namely Amy (Haynes) Citchen. She has worked at Bussman, a past manufacturing company, DuPaul Hospital and has a variety of talents in home decor and jewelry making.
She is a member of Faith Baptist Church. The founding families of the church remain close for four generations after leaving their southern homes. The Mississippi roots of the congregation are deep within the elder membership.
Hazel Citchen Welch
Mrs. Hazel Citchen Welch is a mother, wife and friend. She is a member of Faith Baptist Church. Her Father Henry Lee Citchen and mother Grace Citchen moved to Saint Louis from Clarksdale, Mississippi and founded the church, amongst other notable accomplishments.
Mrs. Welch is a caregiver and “faithful servant” in her community and faith group. The church she attends is the spiritual home of many people who moved up to Saint Louis from the Mississippi Delta, Clarksdale area. Because the members, grew up with one another and their families, they share valuable understanding, memories, and care amongst each other.
Tyrean ‘Heru” Lewis is an urban farmer and farm advocate in Saint Louis. As the owner of Heru Urban Farming, he has a daily relationship with the land. He is excited to share about his Choctaw ancestry.
In this research we uncovered the racist orgins of some of the common names of plants. Derek Laney shares his story on uncovering the name of the purple coneflower.
Derek Laney on discovering the racist name of the Purple Coneflower, Echinacea also once known as “Niggahead Weed.” Multiple American native perennials, with healing properties were subject to racist names, such as the indigenous and black people in the American South.
Druscilla (Haynes) McCool is from Mississippi. Her family’s roots have been preserved through generations, in her role as the baby sister of thirteen children. Her parents were farmers, crafts people and more. Druscilla is a retired elementary/ developmental school educator, quilter, and matriarch of her children, grand children and great grandchildren in and around the Clarksdale, Mississippi/ Memphis, Tennessee area. She resides in Lyons, just a few houses down from her parents past home.
This project also serves as a reminder for the cross cultural connection with people of the Hawaiian Nation. In the interview with Crystal Maller we discuss what is being well and how it relates to land.