BIG MAMA SAID: A Man Without Ancestral Knowledge of Self Is Like A Tree Without Roots

By Terry Allen

Lucille “Big Mama” Allen, the cornerstone of wisdom and faith in our family, often reminded us of the importance of knowing our roots. Her profound statement, “A man without ancestral knowledge of self is like a tree without roots,” echoes through the lessons of history and personal experience alike.

Indeed, history teaches us that without a solid understanding of our past, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.

Three notable examples in our nation’s history, specifically affecting the Black community, illustrate this truth starkly.

Firstly, the failure to address the systemic issues following the abolition of slavery during Reconstruction left the Black community vulnerable to new forms of oppression. The implementation of Black Codes and later Jim Crow laws reestablished social and economic inequalities that the Civil War sought to eradicate.

This period shows how a lack of commitment to historical and social justice led to nearly a century of continued racial discrimination and disenfranchisement.

Secondly, the devastation of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921 highlights the consequences of historical ignorance and racial hatred.

The thriving Black community of Greenwood, known as “Black Wall Street,” was destroyed by a white mob, leaving hundreds dead and thousands homeless.

This atrocity was compounded by the deliberate erasure of the event from mainstream historical narratives, depriving future generations of a crucial understanding of racial violence and economic sabotage.

Thirdly, the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s disproportionately devastated Black com- munities, partly due to a lack of historical insight into drug policy and racialized law enforcement.

The aggressive War on Drugs led to mass incarceration and long- term socio -economic damage in Black neighborhoods.

The stark differences in sentencing for crack versus powder cocaine offenses revealed deep-seated racial biases, perpetuating cycles of poverty and marginalization.

On a personal level, I learned a hard lesson about the importance of knowledge when I moved to New York City. Big Mama advised me to study the city’s culture and geography, but I didn’t listen. I lived in Westchester and frequently took taxis all over Manhattan, naively thinking I was getting great deals.

My New York family laughed when they heard, revealing that I had been consistently overcharged by taxi drivers taking longer routes. My ignorance of the city’s layout cost me dearly—a modern-day reflection of Big Mama’s wisdom.

In every step of life, from the intense stark stages of history to our personal journeys, Big Mama’s words resonate deeply.

To navigate life successfully, we must anchor ourselves in the knowledge of our past, learning from both the triumphs and the mistakes of those who came before us.

I was a classic case of “a man without knowledge is like a tree without roots.” Can you share your lack of knowledge? email me at terryallenpr@gmail.com.

Terry Allen is an NABJ award-winning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional and founder of the charity – Vice President at FocusPR, Founder of City Men Cook and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org