Black Gold Storytellers

Honoring Our Elders

Honoring Rosie Lee Coleman Griffin

by Meres-Sia Gabriel

No Ordinary Love: An African-American Migration Story

For this story, Meres-Sia Gabriel interviewed Meaghan Connor, granddaughter, and Deborah , daughter of Rosie Lee Coleman-Griffin about Rosie’s migration from Monroe, Louisiana. She uses these memories to craft a touching and heartfelt narrative about Rosie’s migration. 

Here’s a short audio clip of Meghan sharing a memory of Rosie.

No Ordinary Love: An African-American Migration StoryDownload
My grandmother in 1974
My grandfather in 1974.
Grandfather (L) in 1976 and my mother (R) at her graduation from Technical High School in 1976.
My grandmother, my mother and myself after Church
Both my grandparents with my mother after her graduation in 1976
My grandfather George Griffin Sr., with friends shortly after arriving to California, at Club Rendezvous.
My grandmother Rosie Lee Coleman-Griffin
My grandmother Rosie Lee Coleman-Griffin

Meres-Sia Gabriel

Meres-Sia Gabriel is a best-selling author and creator of the online course “Life-Changing Writing in Five Weeks: Write Your Book, Inspire Others, and Leave Your Mark on the World!” She has performed, taught workshops, and spoken at the Universidad de la Tierra, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Museum of African Diaspora to name a few.  Her poetry is presently showcased in the Oakland Museum’s “Black Power” exhibit.

You can find Meres-Sia’s book, I Twirl in the Smoke, on Amazon. 

More Stories

This project has been made possible with support from:

Akonadi FoundationCity of OaklandBay Area Writing Project