HISTORIC BLACK VEGAS: Myth Me in the New Year

BY CLAYTEE D. WHITE

It was a ritual when I was growing up: my father would walk into a neighbor’s house every New Year’s Day, bearing hopes of good fortune in their home for the next 365 days. Soon after, the man of the house Dad visited would arrive at our front door, bringing his own wishes for my family’s prosperity. 

That was how the Black community in Bertie County, North Carolina lived out a mythical superstition: that a male visitor brings good luck with a drop-by on the first day of the year. We believed, needed, and wanted it — and it was serious business with a little bit of fun. I’m not sure how well it worked, since most of us lived in poverty and never experienced the promised wealth. 

Those early morning visits were just the beginning. The food was always delicious because my mom (who embodied a sense of magic) was a great cook who made sure we ate black-eyed peas and greens later in the day — symbolizing the coins and dollar bills sure to pour into our lives for the next year. 

There was never a lack trying to produce even a modicum of financial well being; we worked hard every day except Sundays, with just our labor — no real plans for creating ownership. 

Poverty continues to nip at the heels of too many Black Americans, even as countless others have climbed their way out. That rise has never been easy. Decades of Jim Crow laws and systemic racism erected steep and unforgiving barriers, slowing progress and limiting opportunity. Yet still — like dust — we rise. 

Our communities remain burdened by homelessness, substandard living conditions, and unequal access to quality education, often leading to limited job prospects. In the face of these realities, belief endures. We cling to rituals, dreams, and long shots — hoping for a lottery win or a breakthrough moment that changes everything. At times, hope fades and poor decisions follow, but the will to try again never disappears. 

Through it all, we persist. We honor tradition by eating black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day, while also doing the work — planning, seeking training, building businesses, and striving for prosperity. As we enter 2026, let it be a year of financial abundance grounded in remembrance and responsibility. By honoring our history and committing to lift as we climb, we can make the path easier for those who follow.