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Epilogue A rt is a crucial part of my existence—as a woman, as an educator, and even as a researcher. Every piece of work that I produce is at some level poetic. And so, rather than write traditional field notes as I conducted this study, I crafted from my notes a spoken poem summarizing the insights that I gained from this research, which I share below: Cultural Legacy Toby S. Jenkins We need some inspiration . . . some fire We need a spark or revelation to ignite our desire To want more, to do more, to be more for our families To understand what it means to lay down a legacy To cultivate and grow, to sculpt and to mold . . . skills in another soul That helps them to go farther . . . to be the constant gardener . . . of their values and ideologies To help them to navigate the geography of their destiny To help them determine what direction to travel . . . How to steer on dirt road or on gravel That’s sometimes filled with glass and rocks To understand that sometimes life might frighten and shock but there’s a sign up ahead A familial compass that has led you to this point, so don’t disappoint them by missing the point of why you were put here They taught you to drive, open eyes no fear . . . Because of them you can now steer your life forward. So just wait That spirit will tell you what exit to take That memory will help you know when to brake . . . 162 epilogue Your ancestors’ hopes and dreams are at stake We are their garden— The rose that they grew through hardened Soil . . . The flower that they nurtured and toiled for They taught us how to garden and now it’s time to put on the gloves and grow more and be more and do more for my family I need . . . to plant the seed . . . of a love ethic so strong . . . That later generations and after several duplications Of my genes . . . the spirit that I originally put in it lives on I want to pass down values and leave clues for distant nephews that are confused About what to do with their life I want to put together the pieces of the puzzle of life for my nieces And give them skills and confidence that increases Their opportunities in life That demands them to make the most of their life . . . That commands their attention to take their life seriously . . . I just want them to succeed me I don’t want to go the extra mile . . . I want to go so far I wind up in exile trying to love my child Because that child is my heaven My infinite life support—My grandchild will be my resurrection She will forever allow my soul to give insight and wisdom My family’s actions are the true judgment on my soul And if they can do right because of some wisdom I told . . . if they can grow old Being guided by the cultural values that I sewed onto the fabric of my family’s foundation Then let that be my motivation to lay . . . down . . . a legacy To all of the elders whose spirits were named in this study, I say thank you for laying down a legacy—the cultural foundation from which all of these stories were told. ...

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