Special to The Answer

Greetings Las Vegas!   Can we travel for just a few moments down Memory Lane?  How many of us remember a little doll named ‘Raggedy Ann’?  Remember, unlike the polished and shiny dolls of today, she was made of fabric from head to toe.  She had big bright eyes that looked right at her owner and a smile that always appeared to say ‘It’s okay, I’m here now’.  Her clothes were made of cool cotton fabric, usually red and white with a checkered pattern.  Aaaahh yes –we remember Raggedy Ann! 

While visiting our families between Virginia and Michigan, my husband, myself and our three sons Carlos, Welton and John usually looked forward to the 12-hour drive along the beautiful trek from one place to the other.  Driving allowed us to not only relax and enjoy, but also to communicate and reconnect as a family. 

Now ya’ll know that usually around the 5th hour of the drive a fight between brothers got started or Mom was ready to leave at least one of them on the side of the road!  Well, one of the things we remember is stopping at broken down antique shops.  Not the ones where everything has been cleaned and polished for resale.  You know: the shop that is usually run down and off the side of the road.  We didn’t know whether we should stop or keep going?  Yes, those kind of shops.  

Well one day, we stopped in a little place full of dust and whatnots.  We walked carefully for fear the floors might fall in.   Items were hidden along walls and in walkways which housed stuff on top of stuff.   I remember touching buttons and a beautiful crystal punch bowl with at least an inch of thick dust; but, many treasures are hidden beneath dust.  (I think that will preach!)  

While bending and twisting and examining several items, I came upon the most beautiful doll!  You see, she didn’t look like the others; her garments were clean, but not as dressy as the others.  Yes, this one, like Raggedy Ann was made of cloth; but, her color was brown!   Her hair in locks and braids!  Her eyes though not like Raggedy Ann’s, were sewn carefully with thread and still telling a story.   I believe that although Raggedy Ann had a story, her beautiful brown sister doll had a more powerful one.   Yes, she was an original slave doll!  If she could speak, what a story she would tell! (Hallelujah.)

As we pause for the next 28 days to give remembrance to Black History, In addition to Martin and Obama, Sojourner and Maggie Walker, please don’t forget to remember who we are as a people—not just in February, but 365 days a year!  We are a People and a Nation still humble yet proud; battered but not broken; and sometimes still – but yet standing!  We are God’s Children!
We are reminded to remember not just the heroes of our past, but to embrace our brother and sister right next to us.  He or she might look like Raggedy Ann or Andy. 

They may even resemble the little brown doll, but the truth is we dare not forget our assignment: 
II Chronicles 7:14 teaches us that  if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
So as we remember our History, don’t forget to remember our today and our tomorrow.  Hurricane Katrina survivors, we remember you!  Our brothers and sisters of Haiti, we remember you!  Our serving and fallen soldiers, we remember you!

Ya’ll wanna know what happened to Raggedy Ann and The Little Brown Doll?  I’m glad you asked.  Raggedy Ann is still around, waiting for a hug in spite of her circumstances; and the Little Brown Doll—oh yeah, I bought her for less than $10 because no one in the shop realized her true value!  
There is just one more remembrance for this month— TO ALL THE BEAUTIFUL BROWN DOLLS READING THIS ARTICLE, DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE YOU!