September 12,1990 -T h e Portland O bserver- Page J • Portland Observer RELIGION Four Generations of Sylvester Family Unite in Denver, CO The S y lv esters-all four gen­ erations—came from both coasts and in- between to converge on the Mile High City for the fam ily’s first reunion in over Louisiana and sharecropping, that most tangible legacy o f slavery. “ I worked for 75 cents a day, and sometimes 50,” John Sylvester, Sr. said as family mem bers listened atten­ tively in the living room o f one o f his daughters. M rs. S ylvester explained, however, that family mem bers from not- so-long-ago times possessed a strength of character which enabled them to overcome a legacy of back-breaking work and overt racism. “ T here were a lot o f things that our folks didn’t ow n,” Mrs. Sylvester told the group. “ You sec, we didn’t have much. But we had pride.” The significance o f the reunion was not lost on others. Kci th Rice of San Jose, CA, whose young daughter and a decade. The reunion, held from August 9-13 in Denver, brought together dozens o f family members and friends from five states. W hile there was no set theme, issues o f love and com m itm ent to family were ever-present. John and Thelm a Sylvester o f Portland, them ­ selves married for 54 years, provided the fertile ground for the flourishing family tree. “ This reunion has got to help keep us together,” said Mrs. Thelma Sylvester, who, along with her husband, is a proud grandparent of 15 and great- grandparent o f 2. “ The more we can be together, and have this type o f a close relationship to each other, the stronger we will b e.” John Sylvester, Jr., who came to D enver with his family from Hous­ ton, Texas, said, “ It is im portant for our kids to try to get an understanding of where they cam e from. Our children look at the present. But if they under­ stand the past, they will have a better idea o f where they will be headed.” The activities and outings of the idpriSdfi w ert fiighligfit#fbÿ ! faffu- ily dinner which featured good food prepared by M rs. Sylvester and good talk provided by both family elders. The talk of the evening bridged the generational gaps (the youngest Sylvester is 7, the eldest 74) that often keep fam ilies divided. There was talk of son represent the fam ily’s fourth gen­ eration, said that the reunion “ reinforces my ideals about how important the family is mentally, physically, and spiritually.” The elders told a history that had never been reveled before. Some family members laughed. Some cried. All listened. The Sylvester youth, usually so taken by their own world, also sensed the significance of the occasion. Jennifer Sylvester, 14, noted ?fhfirt Jie h