By Chikelu Badu LeSedi Tumelo
Honoring the dead is a reflection of our own character, not an endorsement of a person’s life or choices. Disrespect after death serves no purpose and only reveals how easily we become our own worst enemy.
I did not know Sister Art Cathey personally, but I witnessed the public fallout surrounding her life in The Gambia and prayed for better outcomes for all parties.
What stands out most is how Gambians and The Gambia were impacted by her commentary, responded when they felt it necessary, and then chose silence and forward movement over prolonged conflict. They redirected their energy, focused on their own content, and refused to use her name or narrative for personal elevation.
Notably, none of the Gambian content creators who once expressed disdain for Sister Cathey have shown excitement or celebration over her death. This reveals several important truths about Gambians:
- A commitment to dignity and respect, even in disagreement, including respect for the deceased.
- A culture of forgiveness and restraint, choosing peace over perpetual reaction.
- A focus on self-determination, building their own platforms without exploiting another’s downfall.
Respect to Gambians first—for walking in forgiveness, for maintaining cultural dignity, and for refusing to disrespect the dead. This is why Gambia is beautiful and why we must change the way the world sees The Gambia, with love and peace among one another.
Gambia thank you for creating space for African Americans.
May the ancestors—and our spiritual ancestors—receive her with peace as she enters her infinite journey.
Family, we are in a real battle for reconciliation. If we want to change our future, we have to choose forgiveness, choose love, and choose unity—not as a slogan, but as a practice. We must understand the war we’re in, because the only way we’re conquered is when we walk this journey divided.
Life is short, and we have a legacy to build—one that history will record. All it takes is collective responsibility, and our trajectory can shift fast. Yes, traps are set. Division is calculated. But we were created as powerful beings, guided by universal principles and spiritual law.
If you’re ready to return to our authentic selves, start today—reach out to someone you’ve been distant from, resolve one conflict, and commit to building one thing that strengthens our people. Take one action this week and share with someone who needs a reminder that unity is a decision.
Chikelu Badu LeSedi Tumelo,
Content Creator, Master’s (MS) in Clinical Counseling Psychology from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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