MY FAMILY TREEAdrienne Jitta

FROM WHAT PARTS OF THE WORLD DID YOUR FAMILY (OR FAMILIES) ORIGINATE?

Dad’s Side My father (Alec Jitta) came

from a long distance, he was born in San Fernando General Hospital in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

His father (Sonny Abraham Jitta) originated in Kolkata, India and as far I have been told both his parents originated from here as well.

His mother (Sylvia Jitta) was born and raised from Harmony Hall, Trinidad and Tobago.

Mom’s Side My mother, (Patricia

Jitta), is a born citizen of this country in Miami, Florida.

Her father (Lewis Scott) originated from Miami, Florida as far as she and her siblings know.

Her mother (Annie Mae Scott) is the fifth generation of freed slaves of Vidalia, Georgia.

Grandpa Sonny's Region

Grandma Maggie's Region

WHAT MOTIVATED YOUR ANCESTORS TO LEAVE THEIR HOMELAND FOR A NEW WORLD? WHEN DID THEY LEAVE? IF YOUR ANCESTORS WERE ALWAYS IN NORTH AMERICA, WHAT

WAS THEIR LIFE LIKE PRIOR TO EUROPEAN CONTACT?

Dad’s Side Sonny Jitta, my father's dad, left

India at the age of seven. His family left due to cultural wars between the people. His family went to Reform Village, Trinidad and Tobago to escape the violence. Sylvia Jitta always lived in Trinidad and Tobago. Her family roots can be traced to Dutch. Both families arranged for Sonny to marry Sylvia at the age of 19 and 15 years old. They married and then had children. They had nine children in total and wanted to make a better life for them and they set forth plans to move to America. Sylvia left Trinidad in 1969 and arrived in New York as a maid. After making a living and establishing the family the children began to come over in small groups of two or three or individually. After everyone was here Sonny was the last to make the trip in 1978.

Mom’s SideLewis Scott, my

mother’s dad, is a Florida Native. He use to live up in northern Florida but specific parts is unknown. Annie Mae, my mother’s mom, lived in Vidalia, Georgia where she worked on her family’s farm. She left Georgia in 1956 after having her first child. She moved down with siblings to make a better life in Miami.

WHAT DID YOUR ANCESTORS DO IN THE PREVIOUS TWO OR THREE

GENERATIONS? HOW DID THIS INFLUENCE WHAT THE FAMILY DOES

TODAY?Dad’s Side

My father’s ancestors cannot be traced beyond my grandfather and grandmother. My aunts and uncles tell that he often said he left India and everything there when he left and remembering was not one thing he wanted to do. 2013 present day, and he is died. He died April 16, 1994 when I was only 3 and those memories are lost forever. My grandmother’s family originated from Dutch and Trinidad and Tobago where they owned land. They worked off their own land selling the crop and cattle for goods and money. She sold her land to earn money in order to move to America. She used this money to file for residence card for her and two of her children. She came first and the children later followed. My grandmother’s ancestors set her up to move to America and this influenced the drastic change their lives made but it kept the drive to be hard workers and dedicated still in them as they moved on to have their own families.

Mom’s SideMy mother’s ancestors cannot be

traced beyond my grandfather because he died April 11, 1982 when my mom was thirteen and they never met any of his family members. None of his children recall ever meeting his parents. He was an only child and did not have any half or step siblings. My grandmother’s ancestors came from Africa and were officially freed five generation from grandmother. They were as far as she knows always lived in Vidalia and they worked off the land her daddy had. This land was passed down for six generation. After her daddy died the land was left for his children but the two he left the deed with became greed and kept it for themselves. She did earn some money and she used this to continue living until leaving for Miami. This help set her family up both in Miami and Georgia. She has land in Georgia in which she has given to my mother.

WHAT FAMILY TRADITIONS OR PRACTICES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED OVER THE

YEARS THAT ARE SPECIAL OR UNIQUE TO YOUR FAMILY?

My father’s ancestors spoke English and a Hindu language. The Hindu language made until the move to America. The language slowly died out and during the problems my grandparents marriage faced the language being spoken completely stopped.

My father’s family never had normal tradition like holidays or special days. Their tradition was to value family and gather together when ever able. It might not be unique or different but it is something the children still try and do today. These island people will party anytime, for any reason, at any place. One thing I notice at every party they love music and they party with pots and pans and large spoons. It is a tradition to party and party hard for them.

My mother’s ancestors as far as we know spoke English.

My mother’s family is family people too. Their traditions included family gathers, reunions, and special dishes. One special dish that every woman knows in her family is the great Pumpkin Pie the McCloud Style. There is also the infamous potato salad, jerk chicken, cough salad, and red beans and rice. My grandmother also introduced the family to the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She was baptized and raised her children with the same teachings and values. Today, four of her children practice the belief, one is married to a sister, my mother is baptized and she has two children, my brother and I, which are baptized.

WHAT LANGUAGES DID YOUR ANCESTORS SPEAK? WHAT HAS

HAPPENED TO THESE LANGUAGES IN YOUR FAMILY TODAY?

MY DADDY’S SIDEALEC SHAWN JITTA SR.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FAMILY NAME? HOW, IF AT ALL, HAS IT

CHANGED OVER THE YEARS? DO YOU KNOW THE REASON FOR ANY CHANGES?

My father’s name, Jitta, in their own hearts means might and power. They told me that their dad taught them that and if they are

Jitta they have the power to overcome anything and achieve anything. When they were in Trinidad the spelling was Jeeta. On my dad’s birth certificate it does not have

his name but both his parents and it is spelled this way. From what they have told I

the American government changed the spelling when they filed their paperwork rather by mistake or on purpose but they

never cared of the change.

HIS FATHER:SONNY ABRAHAM JITTA

GRANDPA SONNY Birth Date: September 9, 1928 Birth Place: Kolkata, India Mother: Rajkumer (Unobtainable) Father: Sonny Jitta Left India: 1935

Went to Reform Village, Trinidad and Tobago Death Date: April 16, 1994 Death Place: Miami, Florida Death Age: 65 years old Cause of Death:

(Final Cause) Aortic Valve Stenosis

(Sequential Cause) Congestive Heart Filure

HIS MOTHERSYLVIA JITTA

Left to right: Grandma Sylvia, my mom, and Grandma Maggie

At my parents’ wedding reception

Left to right: my cousin, Karen, my dad, and Grandma Sylvia

GRANDMA SYLVIA Birth Date: June 17, 1935 Birth Place: Trinidad and Tobago Mother: Unknown Father: Unknown Left Trinidad: 1969

Went to New York, New York, United States of America

THE JITTA FAMILY Married: November 26, 1948 Grandpa Sonny was 19 years and Grandma

Sylvia was 15 years old. Children:

Eugene Jetta: (Uncle Hue) Kenrick Jitta Christabell Jitta-Jackson Annabell Arthur Arabella Jitta: (Aunt Sheba) Isabell Jitta: (Aunt Sharon) Alec Jitta Rex Jitta Jabie Jitta

WHAT HARDSHIPS DID YOUR ANCESTORS FACE IN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, EITHER WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED OR SOON AFTER CONTACT? WHAT DID THEY DO TO OVERCOME ANY HARDSHIPS? DO THEY RECALL

ANY PREJUDICE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED?

The Jitta Family left their homeland to come to America to have a better opportunity. A few hardships that they faced were the simple fact that they looked different. Finding work at first was hard but my grandfather was good with his hands and was a dedicated worker. This made him appealing to different work industries such as Golden Strand Hotels here he did work until he died. The children faced discrimination in school and often were picked on. My father can recall getting jumped and having to run home to make it safely. My grandmother faced the hardship of having to start all over with everything. She came first so she had to work hard to make earnings to provide a life and home for her children. She overcame this by coming over with a plan to work as a maid in New York for a year and six months then went to Miami to establish herself even farther. My grandfather came last and faced the hardship of coming over and jumping right into the head of the household role.

Daddy, Uncle Robert, Uncle Jabie,

and Auntie Sheba

Grandma Sylvia, Aunt Sharon, Uncle Hue, Grandpa Sonny, Uncle Jabie,

Karen (Uncle Kenrick’s only child), daddy, and mommy

Grandpa Sonny and his best friend, Jerry

Aunt Rosa, Uncle Kenrick, and daddy

Grandpa and Aunt Sheba

Leo (an ex boyfriend), Grandma, Uncle Rex

THE FIRST GENERATION OF GRANDCHILDREN TO SONNY AND

SYLVIA

From Back to Front; Left to RightTiffany (my dad’s first child), Nicole (Aunt Sharon 1st), Angelica (Uncle Rex 1st),

Ashley (my dad’s 1st with my mom), Ebony (Aunt Sharon 2nd), Amanda (my dad’s 2nd with my mom, Jessica (Aunt Sharon’s 3rd,

and Bradley (Uncle Rex 2nd)

GRANDCHILDREN Eugene Jetta: (Uncle Hue)- 2 (both through

marriage) Kenrick Jitta- 1: Karen Christabell Jitta-Jackson: 4 Annabell Arthur: 2 Arabell Jitta: (Aunt Sheba): 0 Isabell Jitta: (Aunt Sharon: 5 Alec Jitta: 6 Rex Jitta: 4 Jabie Jitta: 0

Total: 24 Grandchildren

MY MOTHER’S SIDEPATRICIA DENISE JITTA

WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FAMILY NAME? HOW, IF AT ALL, HAS IT

CHANGED OVER THE YEARS? DO YOU KNOW THE REASON FOR ANY CHANGES?

My mother’s name was Scott and it never changed or was altered at all. In a unity they all joke and say their name means toilet paper. My Aunt Lisa, my mom’s sister born four years before her, told

me that “Scott’s Toilet Tissue is the only kind of toilet paper I buy”. Other than

the family joke there is no other meaning know.

HER FATHER:LEWIS ALFRED SCOTT

GRNDPA LEWIS Birth Date: February 3, 1908 Birth Place: Florida Mother: (Unobtainable) Father: (Unobtainable) Death Date: April 11, 1982 Death Place: Miami, Florida Death Age: 74 years old Cause of Death:

Prostate Cancer

HER MOTHERANNIE MAE SCOTT

Uncle Son (her brother) and Grandma

My mother and grandma

Carl (grandma’s nephew), my sister (Ashley), Aunt Zenobia (grandma sister), Grandma is in the blue dress with me to her right, and

Amanda(my sister) is at the very bottom of the stairs.

GRANDMA MAGGIE Birth Date: April 16, 1931 Birth Place: Higgston, Georgia Mother: Beulah Broomfield Father: William McCloud Left Georgia: 1956

Went to Miami, Florida, United States of America

Baptized: 1975

Picture of only police station

THE SCOTT FAMILY Married: 1975 Grandpa Lewis and Grandma Maggie was

together since 1957. Children:

James McCloud: (son from a man in Georgia)Baby girl died from Yellow JaundiceFaye ScottLewis Scott Jr.Micheal ScottLeslie ScottPatricia Jitta

WHAT HARDSHIPS DID YOUR ANCESTORS FACE IN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, EITHER WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED OR SOON AFTER CONTACT? WHAT DID THEY DO TO OVERCOME ANY HARDSHIPS? DO THEY RECALL

ANY PREJUDICE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED?

My mother’s family was dealt a rough card from birth. My grandmother is the fifth generation of freed blacks of the McCloud family line. Her father’s family was given land with is still in the family. She worked this land and faced the hardship of not being to go to school. She dropped out in the third grade to help on the farm and cultivate the land. She also was hated because she was a black middle class child in the Deep South. She recalls very vividly being called a “nigger” at the store and in other public places. She overcame this by leaving. My grandfather’s life is not very clear because he was a much closed man to his children and his wife and he died when my mother, the baby of the six, was only thirteen years old. However, after marrying he opened his own business called Lewis Dry Cleaning (as for as the family can remember). The family lived in an apartment over the dry cleaning. One night in 1971 the dry cleanings caught fire and destroyed the family’s home. Nine years later in 1980, their fourth oldest child was killed in the McDuffie Riot by police. In 1982 my grandfather died of Prostate Cancer. My grandmother was left to be a rock for her family in such hardship that came back to back. She also had to deal with the death after death of her siblings. Today out of the original 12 McCloud children only she remains. Her last living sibling just died September 5, 2013. She dealt with her hardships by staying focused on the children that were still alive because “they needed me and did not have anyone else but each other”.

Great Aunt Zenobia Rawls

Grandma Maggie’s sister

Great Aunt GretGrandma Maggie’s sister

Great Grandma Beulah Grandma Maggie’s Mom

Great Uncle NealGrandma Maggie’s Brother

Aunt Lisa (mom’s sister), Grandma, Aunt Gret

Great Uncle GeorgeGrandma’s brother

Grandma, Aunt Gret, andAunt Faye(mom’s oldest sister)

Uncle Scotty (mom’s brother, Lewis Jr.)

Granma, Aunt Gret, Uncle Neal

Great Uncle Son (George)Great Uncle Buddy

Aunt Lisa and Uncle Michael

SCOTT FAMILY AND GRANDCHILDREN

Grandma holding Amanda, my 2nd oldest sister

Top to Bottom; Left to Right

Aunt Zenobia,Carl (Uncle James 1st),

Ashley (mom’s 1st), Jamie (Uncle James

2nd)Bernard (Uncle Scotty

3rd), Grandma, Me (mom’s 3rd),

Marcus (Uncle Scotty’s 1st through marriage), Matthew (Uncle Scotty’s last),

Brandon (Uncle Scotty 2nd),

and Amanda (mom’s 2nd)

GRANDCHILDREN James McCloud: 4 (2 biological and 2 from

marriage Baby girl died from Yellow Jaundice Faye Scott: 0 Lewis Scott Jr.: 7 (6 biological and 1 by marriage) Michael Scott: 0 Leslie Scott: 0 (She says she has 5. My mother’s

five) Patricia Jitta: 6 (5 biological and 1 step)

Total: 17 grandchildren

MY FAMILYAlec

PatriciaTiffany

Ashley Amanda Adrienne Alec Jr. Alicia

Jada AyannaDesireeFreud Jr.Ayden

MY PARENTS AND MY FAMILY

25 year Anniversary party

Daddy and brothers from the Kingdom Hall

Brother Ponton: my parents’ Bible Teacher

Sister Ponton: my parents’ Bible Teacher

Reception feeding each other cake

Alicia (5th)

Dad, Jada, and Desi

Dad and Alec Jr. (4th)

Daddy and Me (3rd)

Jada (Ashley’s 1st)

Alicia (5th)

Alec (4th) and Girlfriend (Stephanie)

Jada and Ashley (1st)

Amanda’s Twins Desiree

and Freud Jr.

Ayanna, Freud Jr. Desi and Ayden

IN WHAT WAYS WAS THIS EXERCISE EASY OR DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO DO? UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES

MIGHT AN EXERCISE LIKE THIS BE DIFFICULT FOR A STUDENT TO DO? WHAT MIGHT YOU DO AS A TEACHER

TO MODIFY IT IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES?

This exercise was very difficult for me. The reason being is that my family does not remember rather by choice or time anything dealing with the past. My mother’s father was the only child and did not talk about his life at all. She describes him as an angry man that was very cold towards them growing up. He did not reveal anything and died with a lot of questions unanswered. My mother’s grandmother died when her mother was only 18 months old, and now Grandma Maggie does not recall anything and has very poor mental health. My father’s dad is dead and he too did not reveal much about his life and parents. They died before my dad was born and so did his mom’s parents. My Grandma Sylvia has such a thick accent without my dad or uncle there I do not always understand her. Honestly it is was an exercise that made me cry more because I really do not have an idea of where I came from because all possibilities are destroyed or lost! My father’s family almost seem like they did not want to help me and they did not care to past their past to me. In many different circumstances this exercise was difficult. One might be for adopted or foster care children and they might not know where they came from and the information might not be available to them because of their age. Another circumstance might be one similar to mine. The story of what happened after my mother and father met would explain why my aunts and uncles would not help me (on my dad’s side) and this made it harder for me to do the assignment. To modify this assignment I would ask for them to trace their line as far back as the last generation that is still alive or they knew growing up.