by Michelle B. Smith

Created on: July 12, 2009

The year was 1965. A nine year old African-American child traveled down a rural country road in Pensacola, FL. Mile after mile, blister and blister, her small chocolate feet carried her thin body to and from school. Those tired little feet finally received a break when allowed to take the bus. Alas, the victory was short lived when the daily burden of walking was replaced with bricks and rocks being thrown at the very bus she rode.

Fast forward to 1974 at Talladega College in Alabama. After returning from Chicago in hopes of attaining a less racially based education, those little chocolate feet are finally home to rest. Even though those feet could not travel the world due to lack of funds, they decided to make their own path. Through studying history in college they traveled through the pages of textbooks venturing to Cairo, Ancient Rome, and anywhere they choose.

"Skeeeeee-we!" This is the call of a proud Black woman who defines herself with sophistication, dignity, and poise. This is the sound of an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman. While those little feet had all of these attributes, it was due to their chocolate color that caused such an upset. Looked down upon by her own people due to the color of her skin, she became the first brown skinned member in her chapter even though the "brown paper bag test" at the time was still an accepted practice.

As always, with class and what we young folks like to call swag, those country chocolate little feet strutted their way into Temple Law School. They made it. Studying was the task at hand so the goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer could be met. Sadly, joy and exuberance became sorrow and pain when the death of her mother came. What makes this more heartfelt is that, her mother is not the mother who birthed her but a distant aunt who raised her as her own. While this lack of close blood ties could alienate some, the air of poverty and racism helped to bring these two together as close family. After the stress of financing herself through college and law school, this was the major blow.

Stoically, those brave chocolate feet continued on the path. Climbing the ladder of life, a new wrinkle appeared for each new rung reached. Smiles etched in a wrinkle when being contracted to work with a major firm. Stress helped to leave its mark when the realization of sarcoidosis set in. Joyful grins left the most prominent wrinkles due to the adoption of her daughter. Thinking back, the aforementioned wrinkles of joy might have a competitor from the wrinkles of worry due to the teenage years of her daughter.

Through years of ups and downs, sadness and joy, this tribute is to my mother. While we share similar eyes, a strong spirit, and intelligent minds, the thing that I appreciate the most is the love that we share. Those chocolate little feet are now slightly bigger but they will always have a not so small caramel pair to share long walks with, walking through the valley of tribulations, and on the path to greatness.

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