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There was a time when the Black family reunion was the event of the year. Matching T-shirts, road trips, hotel takeovers, cookouts in the park, and that one cousin who always had the best playlist. Family reunions weren’t just about food and fun—they were about roots. About hearing old stories, meeting distant relatives, and keeping the family connected.
But if you’ve noticed, those gatherings aren’t as common anymore. Many people have shared that their family dynamics shifted after their grandparents passed away. In a lot of Black families, Grandma and Grandpa were the glue. Their home was the meeting place, their voice carried authority, and their love was the thread that stitched everyone together.
Once they were gone, something else left with them—the intentional effort to gather.
Some say it's because younger generations are busier or more scattered across the country. Others say it’s financial—travel, food, and planning a reunion isn’t cheap. But there’s also a deeper reason many won’t say out loud: The family isn’t as close as it used to be.
Without the matriarchs and patriarchs, some families lost their central peacemakers and prayer warriors. Old grudges got in the way. Group chats turned into ghost towns. And suddenly, years go by without a single reunion.
But here’s the hard truth: Family won’t stay together by accident.
It takes someone—or several people—to pick up the torch and carry on the tradition.
We can’t afford to lose these gatherings. Family reunions are more than barbecues. They’re where young people learn their history, where elders pass down wisdom, and where love covers a multitude of offenses. They are safe spaces where we remember who we are and who we belong to.
If your family hasn’t had a reunion in years, maybe this is your nudge. Don’t wait for someone else. Start the conversation. It doesn’t have to be expensive or perfect—it just has to be intentional.
Because if we don’t keep showing up for each other, we’ll look up one day and wonder where everybody went.
