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In my lifetime, a freeway was built in the middle of the town to get to the Outer Banks faster. Daddy's farming - mmm - gray, long rows and clod - big clods of dirt. PARKER: Grams grew up in farming country in Creswell. GRANDMOTHER OF B A PARKER: I was born in Creswell, N.C. Grandma's specific story always started with where she's from. But I'll sit with somebody, and we'll talk about a specific story or whatever. PARKER: Like, what's - I'm learning how to do. GRANDMOTHER OF B A PARKER: Getting interviews? Grandma, legit - that's all I'm doing for this job. And for the longest time, she was my main interview subject because it was just me and her hanging out during the day. In fact, she was my kindergarten teacher. PARKER: You just spoke with me, that's all.

GRANDMOTHER OF B A PARKER: I don't know what I did. And I think that's how she would have wanted it.

But I'm only one person, so I'm choosing to focus on one ancestor. And wanting to honor my ancestors kind of looms over everything I do, which is no big deal - just the weight of generations of ancestors towering over me and who I choose to be. Knowing that I come from enslaved people is a crucial part of who I am. Lately, I've been trying to figure out what kind of descendant I want to be.