Julia Bledsoe and Samuel Bledsoe (standing), husband William and daughter Marcy Bledsoe-Jones (both seated)

Where: St Agatha, 3147 West Douglas.

Why: Delegates of Convocation Steering Committee, Catholic Youth Ministry, and SAFE (Saint Agatha Family Empowerment)

 

fam — i - ly (fam'lê) n., pl. —lies [L. familia, household < famulus, servant] 1. orig., all the people living in the same house; household 2. a) a social unit consisting of parents and their children b) the children of the same parents 3. a group of people related by ancestry or marriage; relatives 4. all those claiming descent from a common ancestor; tribe or clan; lineage 5. a group of things having a common source or similar features

(Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Concise Edition 1982)

 

The Bledsoe Family is family personified. Julia Bledsoe and her son Samuel Steel-Bledsoe are truly key members of a Chicago institution. A Black African American Catholic institution. A uniquely human institution.

While deeply involved in their faith, their work, and their own individual and collective lives, they both find time to help others through volunteerism, counseling, and what Sam Bledsoe passionately calls "just getting out there and going for yours!" Sam is a delegate on the Convocation Steering Committee, a concert promoter for entertainers, and is actively involved with the Catholic Youth Ministry. Julia, also a Convocation Steering Committee delegate, is also a counselor to young women, and has recently finished her first book.

 

 

BLACK CATHOLIC CHICAGO: What was your involvement with the Convocation Steering Committee?

JULIA BLEDSOE: Well. Let's see. I got involved because I'm basically nosey [laughs]. Truly. We wanted to see what they were going to do and how they were going to do it. There were no West siders on the committee, so I joined.

SAMUEL BLEDSOE: We wanted to represent the West Side by doing something positive. Being a member of something positive. We were delegates at the convocation. There was a lot going on.

JB: People came from everywhere to attend the Convocation.

SSB: So we wanted to make sure we were there. To represent. We got all this positive energy to put forth. People have all these wonderful things that they say and think, but it's all no good unless you apply it.

 

In your opinion, was the Convocation a success?

JB: I would say it was a huge success as far as turnout. As we've said, there were no West siders on the committee. Except for us.

SSB: I would say it was a success. The whole reason I joined was because of the children. They don't have a voice. Just people telling them what they need all the time. They [the children] need someone to speak for them, not to them all the time. That's what I observe. No one seems to talk to the children. Instead, they have all these people making decisions for them.

 

And really not listening to them?

SSB: Right. Even simple stuff like music. No one asks them what kind of music they would want to hear. They just play something. That can't work all the time. I know. Even though I'm 30, I still consider myself a child as far as the elders go.

 

That kind of opens my next question. Tell me about your involvement with Catholic Youth Ministry.

SSB: Like I said, I do this for the children. We're working on a campaign right now for the youth. Similar to World Youth Day. Trying to do something positive and contribute to the growth and success of young people. But we need quicker results. Right now a lot of it is just policy. Outdated policy that young people are really not interested in sticking to or learning about. I enjoy working with the youth to empower them. We empower the youth by empowering elders. For instance, we have to make sure that events for the children are truly for the children. Events that they can get something out of. We need to talk to each other more.

 

What about youth involvement? Is it where it needs to be?

SSB: I've been around for a while. Most things are just old. Not enough programs are new programs or progressive programs. A lot of them were set up 5+ years ago. Some programs are just too old and too outdated.

 

Mrs. Bledsoe. You work with young people also, correct?

JB: Yes. I work with young teen women. We have a wonderful program called SAFE (Saint Agatha Family Empowerment). It's about twelve years old. It's a daily, ongoing program. It differs from many others in that the teens are compensated.

 

What's the purpose of the program? Why are you involved?

JB: I'm a mentor. The purpose of the program is to empower, assist, and educate these young people. Statistics have uncovered that the hours from 3pm to 6pm are the deadliest and the worst for children.

SSB: She's talking about latchkey kids. Coming home and there's nobody home.

JB: Right. So the SAFE program meets five days a week. We do tutoring on Saturday. It's a neighborhood program. They get help with their homework. We work with about 300 children on a daily basis to make sure they stay on the right road. It's a wonderful program and it does so much for the children. That's what makes it so special.

 

You both do so much to help other. What impact has that had on you personally?

JB: Well, we talk about being good Christians. I don't think I would be a good one if I didn't do these things. Christ worked 24/7 on our behalf. So if I can't work a few hours a week for other people, how can I call myself a good Christian?

SSB: For me, this is all I know. Because of my mother, y'know? Helping people is all I know. It's almost like a habit to me. I don't even really understand it, but it's deep. Everyday I look at my own family. There are so many people in my own family who I could help. I just feel compelled to do this work. I feel good when I can help someone and help them to function. It all goes back to my mother. She made me functional. She prepared me in the right way and then sent me out in the world with all the right tools. So, this is my way of giving back. I'm not your typical Christian.

 

What's different about Black Catholic families today?

JB: You know, my husband told me today that he feels good about being a good man. Not just a Christian man. But a good man. He said that as long as his children could say he was a good Christ-like man, he was okay. So for me, being Catholic is just where I am. It's being a good person that's fundamental. When my time comes and they're throwing that dirt over me, I want them to say she was a good lady. I don't think there's anything distinct about Catholic families. But, there's definitely something distinct about good families.

 

How do you cope with the distractions in society?

JB: I clean. I cook. I work in my yard. I pray and sing. These are my ways of coping and healing from the world.

SSB: I walk into the middle of them [distractions]. I look at it to understand what it is. I learn what it is before it really happens. I like to be proactive. I desensitize myself to know that trouble is coming. I say love life, live life, and give life and you'll have a blessed life.

 

How long have you been Catholic?

JB: Over twelve years ago I joined the Catholic church. My children went to Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school. That's how I was introduced to the Catholic church.

SSB: My grandmother has been at St. Agatha for over 40 years.

Wow! She's an institution!

SSB: That's right. She is. She's been there and seen everything. St. Agatha is a neighborhood church. The church takes care of the neighborhood and the neighborhood takes care of the church.

 

What do you do for fun?

SSB: I shoot a little basketball from time to time. I'm involved with my music. Seeing family is my fun. I'm a promoter. I enjoy that. I work with artists to book them for tours, promotions, and concerts.

JB: I like to travel. I've been to Africa. I just got back from Washington. I'm going on a cruise pretty soon. I went to Haiti. When I was over there it just dawned on me that we are truly blessed to be Americans. No matter how much they have done to us. We are blessed to live in this part of the world. Africa was raped and she has not yet recovered. It's a sad and frightful thing.

 

I understand you've written a book. Can you tell me about that?

JB: Yes. I wrote a book called Custody: A Grandmother's View of the Fight for Alexandria Kyesha Jones. It's about my granddaughter. It involves a rather ugly custody battle that took place over her. It was an ugly battle, but we came through it. I wanted my grandchildren to know. That's something we don’t do. There were so many details involved in the story. So many details that were so unbelievable. And so I wanted to record it.

SSB: The book is extremely visual. It's more of a love story about a family rather than a fight in a family. The resolution process in the book is what's central. It's a learning tool for people. That the children turned out OK in the end. The book healed a lot of families around the country. They're even talking about making a movie about it. That's how strong the story was.

 

Any last thoughts?

JB: I'm honored and humbled that I would be asked to do such a thing. Thank you so much.

SSB: I’m glad this is happening. It means that we can keep believing in ourselves. We are members of a royal and regal family. All I can tell anybody to do is keep it raw.

 

CREDITS: Written by Lasana Kazembe