Photos via: @Ngongang
The Giles family just had a holiday gathering that they'll never forget and that you're sure to be inspired by.
It took place in Jonesville, South Carolina at a house that sits on the same land that the Giles' ancestors picked cotton on. What makes it even more special is that the Giles now own the house and the land. Decker Ngongang, a social sector consultant, took to Twitter to share a photo of the gathering, writing:
"My mom and her nine siblings grew up sharecropping in SC. A while back they found out the land our family worked was for sale, so they pooled their money and bought the house and land where generations of our family picked cotton. This was the first Giles family holiday in the old/new house."
My mom and her nine siblings grew up sharecropping in SC. A while back they found out the land our family worked was for sale, so they pooled their $ and bought the house+land where gen's of our family picked cotton. This was the first Giles family holiday in the old/new house. pic.twitter.com/oayzfNbhpG
— Decker Ngongang (@Ngongang) December 26, 2017
Amazing, right? Ngongang continued to share more beautiful moments from his family's powerful holiday gathering. From his cousin's collective pride.
All us cousins were pretty damn proud pic.twitter.com/yvULSamt1z
— Decker Ngongang (@Ngongang) December 26, 2017
To 30 family members enjoying each other's fellowship.
30 people trying to use country-wifi was a bit of struggle; however, we had fellowship, food, 👶🏽's and LeBron pic.twitter.com/jsCobkqZZm
— Decker Ngongang (@Ngongang) December 26, 2017
To family stories.
My uncle explaining how he used to swim in a pond with poisonous snakes, bc "he respected them" #NevaEva 🤣 pic.twitter.com/A6D4uDpW8l
— Decker Ngongang (@Ngongang) December 26, 2017
To meeting and taking selfies with the horse "boy band."
We also met a horse boy band pic.twitter.com/hIGp426bRI
— Decker Ngongang (@Ngongang) December 26, 2017
My sis and cousin (they Delta's) taking selfies with the horsey "boy band." pic.twitter.com/0PriLKicvY
— Decker Ngongang (@Ngongang) December 26, 2017
To Ngongang witnessing his daughter have her first "plate."
Also geeked my daughter had her first "plate" pic.twitter.com/Kybw4KPedu
— Decker Ngongang (@Ngongang) December 26, 2017
Responding to one of the comments, Ngongang reflected: "Being there made me think quite a bit about growing up in Charlotte (not even 60 miles away), how my mom got there, and how big an impact that 60 mile distance had on my life."
Cheers to reclaiming and preserving family history!