BIG MAMA SAID: You Have To Remember “Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored”

By Terry Allen

“Baby,” Big Mama used to say, “Once upon a time when we were colored, we had our own.”
She believed in leaning on faith but never ignoring our responsibility to act. Those words ring in my ears today as I reflect on the anxiety, frustration, and determination of my community in the wake of America’s latest election.
On several national, regional, and local Zoom calls, emotions ran high. Words like mad, betrayed, frustrated, angry, and shocked filled the chats. Someone said it felt like “the rug was pulled out from under my feet,” and another remarked, “God hasn’t cast one vote, yet we blame Him for man’s decisions.” Another said, we asked one candidate to be flawless and let another be lawless. Unfair!

Big Mama would’ve nodded knowingly and said, “What you not gon’ do is let crazy rule you. Let God!”
The election results were a bitter pill. Vice President Kamala Harris led with grace, intelligence, and resilience, yet the nation chose a path that left many feeling undone. Still, hope flickered. Some turned to scripture, prayer, and quiet reflection. Others leaned into action, echoing Brenda Raine’s call: “It’s time to do something!”
Big Mama often reminded us of the power in our hands. She’d say, “Baby, we spend a lot of money with other people. Turn that into our own jobs and wealth generation.”
Those words feel especially urgent now. If privilege and misinformation shaped this outcome, our response must be unity, strategy, and grit.
The call to action is clear: mobilize, educate, and invest in our communities. As participants said, “We need to learn from this and become engaged in what we’re going to do as a result of the outcome.”
This moment clearly states that our current situation isn’t our final destination. We have to hover and prepare.
Big Mama always found ways to make us laugh even in tough times. “You can’t say amen,” she’d say, “just say trust God!”
But her wisdom didn’t stop there. She believed in coping through faith and community. “Don’t stop watching the news,” she’d say, “just know how to avoid being the news.”
The road ahead is steep, but history reminds us we’ve overcome before, and we will again. In the words of a caller, “We shall overcome. Faith has always brought us through.”
So, let’s get to work, y’all.

If she heard VP Harris’ closing speech, Big Mama would say, “The fight ain’t over—it’s just getting good!”
What do you know about being colored and acting up? Email me, let’s talk.

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.