I found this image in one of my mom’s albums. No one recognizes it. There’s a label on the back of it that has the words“ TO BE IDENTIFIED”. I’m not even sure if it is connected to my family and I may never learn the context of this image.
Nonetheless I include this photograph here precisely because I don’t have the background story.
Usually when I work on a project, I feel a need to figure out everything —or close to everything about each step before moving on to the next one. That’s how my family history research has been so far. It’s been a stop-and-go process–picking up when I have time and trying to gather as much information as possible when I can. When I started investigating my family history I focused solely on events after immigration to North America. In my mind I had to piece together this information first before attempting to map out any direct connections to the Pearl River Delta region. However, being with others researching similar histories has caused me to rethink my process.
So I decided to take a risk and travel to my ancestral villages this year – even though I don’t have everything figured out; even though I don’t have all the information; even though the timing might not be right. Looking deeply into my family history is helping me claim my generational past, contextualize my present, and inform possibilities for the future–now.
My approach to family history is no longer a straight linear path but a meandering open road to be explored, evaluated, and experienced.
I’m excited to see where it leads. ■