A Place That Meant More Than I Knew 

One of my favorite childhood memories is visiting Allensworth with my parents. 

Located in Tulare County, California, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park preserves the historic town of Allensworth, a community founded in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth, a formerly enslaved man who became one of the highest-ranking Black officers in the United States Army. His vision was to create a thriving community where African Americans could own land, pursue education, build businesses, and create opportunities for future generations. Today, Allensworth stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, determination, and the importance of community. 

At the time, I didn’t fully understand the significance of where we were. 

Like many children, I was simply enjoying a day with my family. Looking back now, I realize my parents were doing something much bigger than taking us on a family outing. 

Lessons Beyond the Classroom 

They were teaching us. 

My parents believed it was important for us to understand where we came from. They made sure we knew that African American history didn’t begin and end with the stories found in textbooks. They wanted us to see the places, hear the stories, and understand the contributions Black Americans have made to our communities, our state, and our country. 

They taught us about faith, perseverance, hard work, family, and the importance of knowing our roots. 

As children, we may not have fully understood the historical significance of Allensworth, but our parents did. 

What stayed with me wasn’t just the history. 

It was the experience. 

It was being there with my family. 

It was watching my parents intentionally create memories while teaching lessons that would stay with us long after the trip was over. 

When the Roles Reversed 

Back then, my parents were the caregivers. 

They were the ones making sure we were safe, loved, supported, and exposed to experiences that would help shape who we would become. They carried the responsibility. They made the plans. They taught the lessons. 

I never imagined that 20 or 30 years later, the roles would begin to reverse. 

As my parents aged and their health needs changed, I found myself stepping into the role they once held. 

I became the advocate, the organizer, the appointment scheduler, and the caregiver. 

Becoming the Creator of Memories 

I also became the creator of memories and experiences—just as they had been for me. 

The same way they intentionally exposed us to places like Allensworth and taught us lessons about family, history, and community, I found myself creating meaningful moments for them. Moments that I hope they carried deep in their hearts, just as I have carried this memory of Allensworth in mine. 

In many ways, caregiving became more than helping with appointments, medications, or daily needs. 

It became an opportunity to give back some of the love, guidance, experiences, and memories they had given me throughout my life. 

A Legacy of Care 

Looking back now, I realize caregiving has always been part of our story. 

For generations, African American families have cared for one another through hardship, triumph, illness, loss, and celebration. Caregiving is woven into our history. It is a legacy of resilience, sacrifice, strength, faith, and love. 

On this Juneteenth, I reflect not only on freedom and history but also on the lessons my parents intentionally passed down to us. 

Those lessons continue to guide me today. 

They guide me as a daughter. 

They guide me as a caregiver. 

They guide me as an advocate. 

And they guide the work I do through The Caregiver’s Playbook. 

A Memory That Still Guides Me 

Every time I think about Allensworth, I smile. 

Because what seemed like a simple family outing as a child became a lesson about history, family, caregiving, and legacy that continues to shape my life today. 

Perhaps that’s one of the greatest gifts our parents can give us—not just memories, but meaning. Not just experiences, but lessons. Not just care, but a blueprint for how to care for others. 

And for that, I will always be grateful. 

Learn More 

Interested in learning more about Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park and its important place in California and African American history? 

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=583

Join the Conversation 

Have you ever visited a historical place with your family that means more to you now than it did when you were a child? 

Or has a memory from your childhood taken on a new meaning as you’ve grown older? 

I’d love to hear your story in the comments. 

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for teaching us our history, creating memories that still live in our hearts, and showing us what it means to care for others. 

— Delcinya Myles 
Founder, The Caregiver’s Playbook 
“The X’s and O’s of Caregiving”