Stories possess the power to heal, divide, delight, and sadden those who hear them. Having worked in interdisciplinary fields that aim to uplift, enhance, and support the human experience, I believe storytelling is one of the most profound ways to achieve this. I grew up surrounded by stories—tales from the Bible, Greek and African mythology, and Louisiana Creole and Cajun folklore. My ancestors passed down these stories, recounting their own experiences and those of their forebears. They spoke of enslavement, struggles, freedom, war, and, most importantly, survival against all odds.
As an African American woman, I cherish the stories of my youth, where heroes were both male and female, imperfect individuals who often failed their initial tasks but ultimately succeeded in more meaningful ways. These stories featured people I knew, like my mom, grandpa, or favorite aunt, and those they knew, like my grandpa’s great auntie, whose quilt now lies at the foot of my bed. Some stories even told of ancestors who, after enduring mistreatment, flew back to Africa.
As an adult, I find myself more captivated by stories than ever before. I am fascinated by the tales of people I may never meet, yet whose experiences often mirror those of others that I have known or know of. Despite our differences and diverse lives, we share commonalities—we love, laugh, feel, and experience sorrow and pain. We leave our stories for our descendants to learn from, grow from, and remember us by. I believe that our ability to share and pass down stories highlights our humanity, allowing us to find common ground regardless of language or skin color. To be human is to create and share the story of our existence, and as long as we can do this, there is hope for humankind.
The picture at the top is of a storytelling workshop that Coral coordinated with her colleagues at the Market of Dreams in Flagstaff.
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