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WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

By Rochelle Durr

For generations since Black families have migrated north for a better, fairer, safer life and existence for themselves and their families, they have been returning south to reconnect with the ones they left behind: Greats and grands, parents, siblings, cousins, homes, land, and love. Although they moved their families away from the grueling work of the fields, milking cows, raising chickens, outdoor plumbing, and racism, they felt it was important to sustain a connection to their foundation. Many members of the Bourne family have followed this tradition.


Every summer, after the last school bell signals the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation for most school aged kids, children flood out of the doors in anticipation of vacations well deserved – or desired. Parents scheduled time off work, packed bags, fried chicken and stuffed them into shoe boxes, baked cakes, filled old pickle jars with Kool-Aid, loaded up the vehicles – Including the Hillman Bros. coffee can for those bathroom emergencies, and under the stealth of the early morning darkness, began their hours’ drive down south. Families drove for sometimes, days, from all over the U.S., California, Texas, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Washington, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, etc., to convene on the porches that lined Highway 13. Making their way down the highways as quickly as possible, without the luxury of hotel access, or the aid of *The Negro Travelers’ Green Book.

Finding their way to their expectant relatives’ homes, everyone settled in for a comfortable, one week – two-week, whole month’s visit with family, food, and open space. Some visiting with other relatives was done, but almost never at the same time. They met up at the church conventions and revivals which were held every summer. Whether they did or they didn’t eat at the church, many family members ended up at an elder relative’s home, just to sit and visit for a while.


In 1965, family members were gathered on the front lawn of Levon Bourne, visiting, and catching up with each other. Cousins, Missouri, Onette, and Edgar were discussing coming together like this, every year. Missouri had mentioned that she had heard on the radio, about families gathering back home and calling it a “family reunion”. Edgar and Onette agreed to bring their families back at the same time the following year, and they would call it, “The Bourne Family Reunion”.


The following year, in August of 1966, many families gathered on the lawn of Levon Bourne, once again. In anticipation of the big day, many members showed up the day before to help prepare for the family reunion. There were so many people there after the preparation was done, who needed to be fed, that they broke out the big black kettle and fried up catfish for the masses. Hence, began the tradition of the Fish Fry and The Bourne Family Reunion.

*The Negro Travelers’ Green Book: travel guide published (1936–67) during the segregation era in the United States that identified businesses that would accept African American customers. Compiled by Victor Hugo Green (1892–1960), a Black postman who lived in the Harlem section of New York City, the Green Book listed a variety of businesses—from restaurants and hotels to beauty salons and drugstores—that were necessary to make travel comfortable and safe for African Americans in the period before passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964.

History: Text
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