In every home, there was a good couch that no one was allowed to sit on. It was reserved for company only who were royal enough to be invited into

the living room. But, mind you, no company was ever quite good enough to sit on it. So why was Big Mama preserving it? Because that couch was gonna last

her for 50 years....maybe more! And y'all wasn't gonna tear up all her furniture!!! 

And if you got real lucky, she'd put it on the couch in the den, too. This

was to prevent you and the other chilluns' from spillin' Kool Aid on it. We're not sure what's worse, the whoopin' it saved you OR the ripping of your skin

when you sat on it in the summertime. Hmmmmm!

We said it once, but we'll say it again...the struggle was real!!! Nobody had no money for fresh fruit. The closest we got was having a few plastic apples, bananas

and a bunch of rubber grapes that made a kitchen counter or table complete. We all got our fruit from fruit punch or Kool-Aid. Pick your pleasure! 

Don't ask...because we can't tell you who started this trend or why. Our guess....nothing says “we cook in here” (you know, the kitchen) like those oversized forks and spoons that

every black mama used to decorate her kitchen with. That was decorating 101 back in the day. If you can figure it out, let us know.

Before there was cable, DVR or any of the thousands of shows we currently have access to, there was only about 3 channels. And they went off at night. So

when your favorite show was on, you couldn't take any chances. If the picture wasn't clear, it wasn't rocket science. You just grabbed a wire hanger, rigged it in just

the right spot, and like magic your soap opera came thru clear as day. Whachu know about that?!!

One thing is for certain...and two things are for sure: #GrowingUpBlack you were gonna have you some religion and some black artwork...in that order.  From 'The Last Supper' -- the

Black version to a host of other artwork that depicted black people, this was how we all kept it real at home. Your parents were #UnapologeticallyBlack long before it became

a hashtag.

Don't get it twisted, of course Big Mama had her fine china cabinet. But you know even if you lived to be 100 years old, your a** was never gonna

eat off those plates.  They were untouchable. Nothing ever came out the china cabinet, even on holidays or special occasions. Paper plates per the usual. #NoExceptions

If you were lucky to have an air conditioner it was a window unit that only came on at night. At all other times you relied on a box fan.

Pro tip: Place a bowl of ice water on the floor in front of your fan to produce cooler air.

Vaseline put ashy skin on notice as an all-purpose moisturizer and also served as a healing ointment and hair conditioner. This miracle with a blue-lid was a staple in black

homes.

Honorable Mention: Blue Magic and Luster’s Pink Oil Moisturizer

We were raised that you didn't throw nothin' away. Everything could be used again....i.e. Crown Royal bags, Crisco containers, Country Crock “Tupperware” bowls, a drawer full of plastic grocery bags.

If you got caught tossing out a good jelly jar that Paw-Paw could use for his sweet tea, that was your a**. You must be crazy!!! #GrowingUpBlack everything had a

shelf life--like eternity...and not one second before!