I discussed this a little in my reading response last night so family being today’s topic is extremely ironic. I grew up in a house on Chicago’s west side with several family members living on different floors. My grandma lived up top, my family on the first floor and my uncle in the basement. This reminds a lot of the Dinka because they had such similar living conditions. For them, the whole village was family, with everyone’s parents looking out for the children, where they birthed them or not. The “it takes a village to raise a kid” quote is taken to heart by the Dinka.
This kind of “Make you my own” attitude was shared by the people I lived with and my neighbors around. I can vividly remember crossing my street to visit the twins who always had giant popsicles for whoever asked, even if it was some random crack head, which no one really wanted to share with because our parents said they would come back over and over. The Dinka also helped their families by sending younger members to help the elderly or those just overwhelmed with daily task. Take Benson for example, he went to live with his older sister after she had a baby in order to help her with the goats. He stayed for a whole year! That’s like my Dad saying, “Hey Fred, your sisters about to have a baby, go to work for her.” Hell no. My father has sent me to help family members but never for such a crazy amount of time.
That’s the difference between true unity and the city version of Family. Although we all have each other’s backs, the Dinka are a people well conditioned to self sacrifice, a trait I think will take me many more years to hone. My father always tells me I’ll never understand the meaning of family until I have my own and are ready to give like he does. The sad part is its true. I’d rather party, responsibilities for weirdoes.
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