Like so much in life, there is often a back story to who each of us was, is and – if time allows – will become. This intimately personal journey is intended to provide only a tiny glimpse into the life journey of my baby sister – the baby sister of BlackParentSpeaks.

In c.1957, baby Havana was the thirteenth child born into the ‘Black’ Stroud family. Daddy suggested that my baby sister be named Havana because his wife, my mother, was named Havana. My mother concurred with the name choice.

Similar to her sisters, Havana was strong-willed and able. Havana had amazing wit and a mind that simply would not quit. Like other children in the Stroud family, Havana grew up playing checkers and jacks, shooting marbles, jumping rope, running, reading, learning math, speaking both English and some Spanish…. Havana had her own style and was a quick study in whatever she undertook.

Baby Havana’s father was a Black man of immense love, patience, overstanding, talent, abilities, innovation and creativeness, knowledge and more. Daddy was well known and rather frequently ‘hated upon’ throughout some of the ‘White’ areas of Portland, Oregon and beyond.

Often, the Strouds of Portland, Oregon received ‘hate’ mail, phone calls and more from White folk who resented the Black presence of the Strouds. Both the Oregonian newspaper and the Oregon Journal newspaper received and, at times, printed hateful writings directed at and mentioning ‘Black’ Mr. Stroud – writings that came from some of the newspapers’ White readers. Mr. Stroud was a legend who did not shy away from a fight! Rather, Mr. Stroud confronted White America head-on and voiced that ‘what does not kill a Black man can make that Black man stronger….’

Baby Havana grew up in an area where color lines were clear. White stores often did not allow Blacks to freely browse and/or shop. In fact, some White businesses posted signs that read ‘no Blacks allowed’ or words to that effect. In spite of the ugliness of racism, however, Baby Havana grew and thrived. She learned at the feet of her Daddy and reached academic heights that put her on front street. Before Havana’s teen years, Havana’s acuity and ability in preparing income tax returns was given national attention by the ‘late’ Johnny Carson.

Havana attended ‘White’ Grant High School in Portland, Oregon. While a student at Grant, Havana took off from school and traveled with the ‘late’ Stokely Carmichael (lka Kwame Ture) and BlackParentSpeaks on speaking and organizing engagements throughout the states of Oregon and Washington. At the time, my mother was concerned for the safety of Havana and worried that Havana would miss out on her schooling at Grant. Daddy, however, expressed to my mother that ‘Havana will learn far more on the road with Lulu (BlackParentSpeaks) and Stokely than she will ever learn at Grant’. Thus, Havana accompanied us….

After three years of academics at Grant, Havana graduated. Prior to graduating, Havana was notified that she would receive a full-ride scholarship to a ‘Black’ college on the east coast. Havana was thrilled but expressed that she knew of a fellow Black student who had his heart set on attending said ‘Black’ college. Havana told my father that the other student could only attend said school if he had the full-ride scholarship that she had earned. Havana found herself ‘torn’ between joy and regret; and, a family discussion that included my father, Havana and me ensued.

In short order, Havana decided to contact the ‘Black’ school. After discussion and negotiation, Havana agreed to decline the scholarship and the school agreed to award the scholarship to the other Black student. That Black ‘male’ student never knew or learned the back story of his scholarship. That is an example of who my baby sister Havana was….

BlackParentSpeaks finds herself becoming too emotional to further go into detail as to who Havana was.

A few days ago, BlackParentSpeaks was contacted and informed that her baby sister Havana had passed away as a result of a microwave started fire. I have been told that the fire totally destroyed Havana’s residence and personal belongings. Havana was 63 years of age.

Any and all who read this BlackAngryWomen post need to be aware and informed.

Take care and please, DO NOT FORGET OUR REPARATIONS!