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Mayowa Aina

@mayowaaina_

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This story is about Manny Ellis. But it’s also about family, community, Blackness, and refusing to be ignored. It’s the first time I’ve been able to truly reflect on the 2020 protests, where we are, and where we’re going. This one’s for you, Tacoma. I hope you’ll listen.

Subscribe at thewalkhomepodcast.org taken in Tacoma, Washington by @mayowaaina_

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4 years ago

Well, I guess today is as good a day as any to share this news. I recently joined Washington’s legislature to work as a communications specialist for the House Democratic Caucus. I have ✨thoughts✨ about journalism and the industry and purpose. So many thoughts. I’ll keep them to myself for now. Right now, I’m gonna spend the rest of these beautiful fall days learning, dreaming, and working for a better future ✊🏾 by @mayowaaina_

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2 years ago

I love this picture. It looks like an album cover. It looks like it was taken well into the party, maybe toward the end, after you’d danced, and sprayed, and ate some pounded yam. You were known for always working hard, probably too hard, but here in this photo … this is you (and my dad) at play. It’s been a few weeks now since you left us. I haven’t been able to put my feelings into words. I’m still not. This is my best attempt. You were a big ol’ rock in the foundation of our family. The unstoppable workhorse. Unshakable in your faith in God. Constant. Consistent. You were just always there - for all of us. A fact of life. It never really occurred to me that one day you wouldn’t be. I miss making you laugh and seeing you smile… greeting you at parties, or at the office, and being pleasantly confused by your sayings and proverbs 🤣. Moving forward has been hard. But you taught us that we can do hard things. More grease to your elbow, uncle 🕊️ by @mayowaaina_

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My family laid my uncle Henry and his wife Chris to rest this weekend. Their loss was sudden and tragic and unexpected. I wish I had seen them more often and known them both better. Chris was always sweet and caring toward me. And ‘Uncle Main Boy’ as I liked to call him lol - he was good. He was strong and reliable, honest, funny, and too smooth (as you can see in these videos where he’s dancing with our cousin, that’s my mom crackin’ up in the background 🤣). I’m happy I have these memories. And I hope they are both resting easy now. by @mayowaaina_

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When I was in college, I visited Birmingham, AL with a group of other students - we were learning about the civil rights movement and attended a church service at the 16th Street Baptist Church. My aunt brought my grandmother up from Huntsville to see me and watch the service. At the end, as people walked out of the church, she shook everyone’s hand and introduced herself saying “I’m Mayowa’s grandma.” Even people who weren’t part of our group 🤣 it didn’t matter. She said it with so much love and pride, it was like being my grandma was her biggest accomplishment. She made us all feel that way.

We laid my grandmother to rest today.

She was born in Alabama in 1932. She had 12 children and 30 grandchildren. We called her “Tiny.” She loved God, her family, a good game of Bingo, and a yard sale. Her favorite color was pink. She always called me pretty. We nearly shared a birthday - we’re two days apart.

My grandmother was an incredibly strong woman. She lived a hard life, and somehow she was still able to find the joy in it. She shared that joy with everyone around her until the day she died. I hope she can finally rest easy. by @mayowaaina_

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3 years ago

Y’all seemed to like this one in the stories so I thought I’d let you have it 😘 by @mayowaaina_

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I saw @sza live for the first time at the UW spring concert in 2015. It feels like I’ve watched her grow up, but singing my heart out and crying at her show at Climate Pledge - her first arena tour! - I realized we’ve grown up together. She’s kinda the only artist I feel that way about. We’ve both come so far since 2015, and we have so much farther to go, but it’s nice knowing we’re on the journey together. by @mayowaaina_

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4 years ago

Portland is weird … it’s coo tho by @mayowaaina_

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Bet on me, boo 🎲🎲 by @mayowaaina_

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4 years ago

Attachments: 8 images 😘 by @mayowaaina_

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4 years ago

*Whew* by @mayowaaina_

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4 years ago

1 by @mayowaaina_

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