It could be your mother, a friend or a teacher. Have they expressed themselves artistically? Worked to better their community? Achieved academic success? Empowered others and embraced diversity? Share their stories here.

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Siler Mary

Troy, AL, USA

Just simply, my maternal grandmother was one of my main influences. I’m reminded of her often and still inspired. She was the pure God-given glue that held life itself together for my family. I was born in 1968 so I grew up in the South in the sixties and seventies. She was stern, but fair. Always working, always doing. She taught me by example to be honest, to have great integrity, to be charitable, self-sustaining and the best at what I could do. She taught me purposely to be an economic support to my community by always supporting black businesses. She also showed me purposely or not how to be an entrepreneur. She tailor-made dresses for church members and neighbors. She baked cakes as well. I realized she had a business as I got older and she worked wedding after wedding making the bride’s dress along with all the others in her party. She also made the wedding cake and groom’s cake from scratch. Because of her legacy I’m inspired to open a dress shop.

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