Family members chime in, answering the question:
What does being a part of the Jones Family mean to you?
Sallomé Hralima, Brooklyn, NY
Being a part of the Jones Family means that I have been bestowed love, value, courage, brilliance, talent, charisma, and faith. For me it means I have people to call when I want to share a victory and when I need someone to remind me of my greatness, when I need professional advice and when I need to vent. It means there is a dancer, doctor, filmmaker, artist, lawyer, educator, politician, therapist, writer, craftsman, real estate broker, engineer, holistic health practitioner, advocate, preacher, organizer, scientist, professor, doula, travel agent, construction worker, anthropologist, marketing exec, entrepreneur, police officer, editor, CPA, musician and more in the building! It means I am well prepared to face all challenges and to create a new reality for myself and others. It means I will never be forgotten.
Alexis E. Harris, Berkeley, CA
When I think about being a "Jones" I feel secure and I feel the strength behind that name. Even as a a part of this family through marriage (Cleveland Jones & Vera Stein Jones aka Myrtis "Mary" Bell), I value the history of our family and the accomplishments that the sibling were able to make once they migrated to the North. The evolution of our family makes me proud.
Niwonna Jones, Atlanta, GA
When I think of what it means to be a Jones I get overwhelmed with emotion. There is no feeling like the feeling of being loved supported, nurtured, educated, befriended, reared, respected all at the same time. There is so much diversity, honor, tradition that comes along with being a Jones. Being a Jones is not only a privilege and an honor but a responsibility. In 2006, we adopted the West African Andrinka symbol that means "help me and let me help you". Interdependence and cooperation. Without it, we are nothing. Being a Jones reminds me of the Gospel song that says, "I pray for you, you Pray for me, I love you, I need you to survive. I won't harm you with words from my mouth, I love you, I need you to survive. It is his will that every need be supplied. You are important to me. I need you to survive."
Kim Brooks, CA
What I am most proud of being a part of this family is the abundance of love for each other. There are many times when we may not see eye to eye on some issuses. But, it is the love that keeps us bound together. I remember some moments when during a family meeting, my grandfather (Bigdaddy) and Uncle David were arguing over some policy structure. They did this almost every meeting. I asked Bigdaddy why do they always do that? He said, because we are brothers and we can do that. That is what family does. We love through the good and the bad. When my grandfather passed, I felt such a great lost and disconnect that I cannot explain. When my grandfather was alive he would say "I love you" and "call me when you get home", I was thinking as I was leaving the hospital after he had passed, that no one is going to say "I love you", the way he did with much love and concern ever again. Then one day after a meeting, as I was leaving Uncle David said "I love you". It was filled with that love, that "Jones" love. It's a solid love. It's a love saying you "belong to something great with ties bound to one another". "No one left behind, No one forgotten" He stepped in and took over where the void was no longer there. That is what we have to do as a family, step up to the plate and continue where they (ancestors) left off at. I still cry when thinking of it. I have a picture of Alexis and Bigdaddy talking and another picture of Zaire and my mother talking. Great grandparents talking to their great grandchildren. "Ties bound to each other passed down". I boost of our family's accomplishments, individually and within the family unit. There are some resistance to change. I have had some resistance, but I know the changes can only make the family better. The resistance comes with how the change is presented. I know family members are very passionate about their ideas. But they must keep in mind there are those who are very passionate with the way they are doing things now. There is a way to present change, without offending each other. Keeping in mind we are family, FIRST and FOREMOST!!!! I am a Proud member of the JONES FAMILY!!!!