Black family reunions are more than social gatherings—they are living
monuments to resilience, cultural pride, and the enduring bonds of
kinship. They preserve our history, connect generations, and serve as
vibrant spaces for passing down traditions, values, and wisdom. These
reunions are intentional acts of legacy, ensuring that no part of our
story is lost to time.
The Barnes-Blow Family Mission Statement
The Barnes-Blow Family exemplifies the heart and purpose of such
gatherings through its clear and inspiring mission. Their commitment is
not only to celebration, but also to education, empowerment, and unity
across generations.
The Barnes Blow Family and the Barnes Blow Family Reunion
Committee are committed to uniting our family in celebration of our
ancestry and shared experiences. We gather to reflect on our journey,
embrace our diverse stories, and foster a sense of belonging.
Our mission includes providing information to family and community
through several programs. The programs include health & wellness,
financial literacy, career options, genealogical research methods, and
securing funding to establish the Barnes Blow Rural Academic
Scholarship to empower and strengthen our family and the
communities where we live.
By embedding these values into the very structure of the overarching
Barnes Blow Family and the Barnes Blow Family Reunion program, the
Barnes-Blow Family demonstrates how such gatherings can serve as
vehicles for both cultural preservation and community development.
This model reminds us all that keeping Black family reunions alive is not
just about looking back, it is about investing in the future.
The Legacy of Black Family Reunions and Why We Must Keep Them Alive
- Historical Roots: Family as Resistance
- African-American family reunions trace back to Emancipation and Reconstruction, when formerly enslaved people actively searched for lost loved ones through “Information Wanted” ads in Black newspapers.
- These reunions became living rituals of family reconnection. They served as a response to the deep fragmentation caused by slavery and later, the Great Migration.
- Cultural Transmission and Identity
- Research shows that reunions serve as intergenerational bridges. They preserve oral histories, family stories, recipes, and values across generations.
- These gatherings help reinforce cultural identity and belonging, especially during times of social or political change. Younger family members gain a direct connection to their heritage and ancestors’ strength.
- Family Bonds and Social Capital
- Family reunions create spaces to strengthen kinship ties and enhance
relationships that provide emotional and social support.
- They also reinforce the presence of role models within the family, which is especially important for children who might only see public figures as examples.
- Preservation in the Modern Era
- Modern families face new challenges such as long-distance living, busy schedules, and blended households. Even so, many continue to adapt reunion traditions while preserving their core meaning.
- Success often comes from passing the torch. Elders mentor younger organizers, while activities and responsibilities shift to fit today’s lifestyles.
- One example is the first Ancestral Hat Walk/Parade, which honored our female relatives who wore stylish, brightly colored hats to church. This tradition, rooted in African culture, gave family members a way to reflect on loved ones by choosing hats that matched their personalities.
The 2025 Barnes Blow Family Reunion: A Living Legacy
- Our 2025 reunion brought together hundreds of family members from across the country. We gathered on June 27 and 28 at the Southampton County Fairgrounds, and at Mars Hill Baptist Church on June 29. It was a powerful reflection of Black family tradition, unity, and continuity.
- Activities like line dancing, storytelling, honoring ancestors & veterans,
graduates, and connecting across generations mirror the historical functions of
these reunions. The oral history recordings, water balloon games, and three-point and
free-throw shooting games help cement the family bonds. We had elders in their
80s competing with women, boys, girls, and teenagers in basketball.
- The Family Feud Games with Steve Harvey (AKA Alvin Darden) with co-host
Paulette Gramby and Michelle Elliott were a joy for everyone.
- We bonded over the Know Your Mate Game, cohosted by Becky Rice and Alvin Darden.
- Our shared music brought everyone together across generations. From classic line dances to “Boots On The Ground,” DJ Scooby Doo and Howard Lemelle II kept the energy alive.
- Part one and two of our family tree continues to grow. The video roll call of the growing list of family names was impactful to all.
- The continuation of our faith tradition at one of the five family churches was
touching. The five historical Barnes family churches include Bryant Baptist
Church, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Pleasant Plain Baptist Church, Mount Table
Baptism Church, Galilee Baptist Church, and Shiloh Baptist Church.
- Faith remains a core part of the Black family reunion experience, and especially for the Barnes Blow Family.
- The Barnes Blow Family is large and continues to grow. We welcome family
members and receive them with love, respect, and shared heritage.
- Relatives traveled from all over the country, including New York, New Jersey, California, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, New Orleans, Tennessee, Delaware,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Texas, Alabama, and many other states.
- Cephus E. Stith created and presented a case study program showing family,
friends, and community members how to do genealogical research.
- Dr. Edgar Dillard preserved additional family history through oral history
recordings during the reunion.
- Gail Lover and Leatha Lamison White shared some additional Barnes and Blow
family highlights.
- Cary Goodwin and Edna Lamison Goodwin were honored as being catalysts for
the first family reunion and what is now known as the Barnes Blow Family
Reunion. The first reunion occurred over 55 years ago on the farm at Mommy
Rhea’s house.
- A wide assortment of delicious foods was available to everyone.
- In-kind donations received from family and friends were significant.
Sustained and significant contributions to the family were recognized by
presenting The Shining Star Award. The first recipients are:
Cary Goodwin
Fitzgerald Barnes
Edna Lamison Goodwin
Leatha Lamison White
Reflections
Black family reunions are more than events. They are acts of remembrance, resilience, and
renewal. They connect the past and future by honoring ancestors and equipping younger
generations with identity, values, and belonging.
The Barnes Blow Family Reunion reflects what scholars call a ritual of empowerment. It
celebrates our history while holding space for continued unity, faith, and strength.
Our motto is “Honoring Our Past and Embracing Our Future.”
This legacy began when Langston Barnes and Rhea Mae Blow married. Their union brought
together siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, nieces, nephews, sons, and daughters into
one vibrant, diverse family known today as the Barnes Blow Family.
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