Junior Reflects On Family Heritage

My family history has always been something that I have admired. You can imagine that when I first heard out about my ancestors and who they were, how amazed I was. When my grandfather told me and my family about our family history I was shocked. Learning about my ancestors on how they lived and fought surprised me, but also made me proud.

My family legacy and how our name came to be all started in Africa. And my very great grandfather, who was captured and brought to America, is a hero to our family because of his journey. I say he is my very great grandfather because of his bravery and strength, even after being captured and becoming a slave.

We do not know his African heritage name, but when he came to America he was given the name Wright Seer Bonner, Sr., which was the same last name of the slave master who had purchased him. During that time slaves were given the same last name as their masters, this was because people like my very great grandfather were seen as property.

When my very great grandfather was brought to America he was brought from Senegal, Africa and was brought to the Carolina states. When he was purchased he was sent to Aliceville, Alabama where he became a slave for the rest of his life. And my grandfather was the very first person in our family to live in America.

Several years later, my grandfather had a son who was named after him, Wright Seer Bonner, Jr., who was the first in our family to be born a slave. As I began to learn more and more about our family history the more I became overwhelmed by how much I had to take in. I wanted to know every single detail of each person and who they were. I wanted to know everything they did and how they were treated because I knew I had some part of them inside of me.

When I see me and my family I am reminded of where we came from and how our lives started here. And I remember my grandfather every time our family comes together to celebrate our family legacy. I am reminded of his hardships and his life as I continue to see my family and how their lives affect me. 

As my family history continued, soon my other grandfather, James Bonner, was born in the year 1860. His children were Reese Bonner, Zeb Bonner, Ross Bonner and Febie Bonner, who was the mother of my great great grandfather. My great great grandmother, Febie Bonner, gave birth to my next grandfather, Bennie Bonner Sr. He was the father of five children: Zebbie Bonner, Linwood Bonner, Bennie James Bonner, Jr., Johnnie Mae Bonner and Albert Bonner.

My great grandfather was Bennie Bonner, Jr., born May 13, 1928, and was someone who I was blessed to know and love so well. My great grandfather was a middle child just like me and from the time I was little we grew really close and he always said I was sweet as can be. My family and I would always go to visit him where he lived in Gadsden, Alabama and he would always be waiting for us on his porch.

Being able to know my great grandfather and grow a rich relationship with him. When my great grandfather passed away back in 2017 I was heartbroken. At his funeral I remembered all the good times we had and it seemed so unreal that he was gone. Now when I think of him I see him as another life legacy in our family that is gone to rest. And I am glad to have known someone so special for such a short time but will forever be remembered.