Life and Death: What Matters Most

Me and my grandmother Elizabeth Catlett.

As I come off the launch of my book tour in NorCalif and from being an ambassador to Saramento Fashion Week, I am reminded of the things that matter by the amazing people I met and the organizations with whom I am proud to be establishing relationships with where our shared values for what’s important drive our work and our lives.

I wrote the following column originally late last year after the passing of my grandmother, but I realize it has new meaning even now.

-Naima

 

Connecting with people through words…

My grandmother has been a huge influence in my life. She taught me so many life lessons that I treasure dearly. My grandmother Elizabeth Catlett was a sculptor and a lithographer, a tremendous artist, woman, human being and grandmother.

Growing up, I remember going to her and my grandfather’s gallery openings and how veryone was always so impressed with her work. It was normal for me – I had been seeing her artwork my whole life. I didn’t realize the impact she was making on people until I was much older, or realize how it would drive me toward my values as an adult.

When we visited our home in Mexico, I remember her working in her studio diligently day after day, hour after hour.  She showed me what it meant to devote your life to your artwork. She showed me that it is okay to want to be an artist and make it into a career. She showed me that it is okay to follow the yearning of your heart to become happy.

Listening to stories of her life and struggles that she faced taught me how you can overcome obstacles and become victorious. Listening to the stories of all of you that you submit to me and to those of people I am beginning to meet at book signings and events I attend around the country, I am always reminded of my grandmother and her origins, of how hers began with slavery and how lucky so many of us are to be advancing beyond the horror of that reality.

Elizabeth Catlett’s work.

She told me stories of her own grandmother who was a slave, how one day while my twin sister, Nia, and I were visiting my grandparents in Mexico, she decided she would sculpt a piece of art modeled after my head.

She took some photos of me and a few months later, I saw the result. It was beautiful. In that moment, she taught me that I was beautiful, and to look inside for that beauty.

She taught me to hang my jacket up when I came home, too, and other assorted important things like table manners, Spanish, and how to be proud of myself.

Hers was a journey of constant efforts at revealing the beauty of women. In one-way or another, she helped shape me into a feminist.

My grandmother also showed me love. I loved her and still love her. My grandmother passed away peacefully on April 2, 2012 at our home in Cuernavaca, Mexico. She and my grandfather Francisco Mora built that home for us. In her death I realized how much she had impacted the world and in turn how deeply she had impacted me. Everything she taught me lives on in my own life and our relationship continues. It is my turn to bare the flag of compassion and humanism. I intend to make her proud!

A wonderful young fan at Sacramento book signing…so awesome to connect with the dreams when we’re young!

As I look share my experiences of meeting new people and hear their stories, I am reminded of what truly matters most. I wonder, what might have been the thing to help you understand the importance of that lesson?

I would love it if you would share that with me here at my Fan Corner. Send me your photo so I can profile you!

To learn more about Elizabeth Catlett, visit the New York Times for her passing obituary, and her website. 

To get the latest copy of my book in print or on iTunes, please visit the “Get My Book” page here.

The post Life and Death: What Matters Most appeared first on Naima Mora Online.