b'itwaspainfultoo.Airstreamsprovidedherwithmembership into the club. profound insight on the world and people.It was kids connecting in the woods, says Wilson. WilsonvividlyremembersacampingtriptoStoneIts About ChoiceMountain, Ga when the Ku Klux Klan was having aTheproudownerofa19-footAirstream, rally. She recalls the vandalism of their property, andpick-uptruckand15acresoflandinCalhoun her dad who denied owning his Airstream in order toCounty, Wilson is back in her happy place. While enter a campground in Mississippi. itisnotwiththefamilysheoncecampedwithin Someone said to my dad, boy, you cant camp here.additionalareaslikeColumbus,Ga.,Canadaand Mydadhadtorespondbysaying,thatsnotmyAlabama, she is ready to create some new experiences. trailer. Its for my boss man, recollects Wilson.IplanonbuildinganRVbarn,saysWilson.It lookslikeapavilion.Ithasadeckaroundit,little Airstreams are expensive due to their aluminum body.buildingsandanoutdoorkitchen.Iwillbeableto The material is costly; it takes a large amount of laborpullmyAirstreamontheproperty,rightuptothe toassemble;anddeck,andenjoymy appliancesaregetaway place.ofteninstalledWhilemanybyhand.IntheAfrican-Americans 1960s,itwasraremaynotenjoy foranAfrican- natureasWilson Americantoowndoes,shereminds an Airstream.themthatmany Another rarity wasAfrican-Americans foranAfrican- originatedfromthe AmericantoruralSouth,only belongtothemigratingtothe prestigiousWallyNorthforbetter ByamAirstreamindustry and jobs. Club.Bigred numbersonanManyownedownersAirstreamlandatonetime, were an indication that they were a club member. Tosays Wilson. We just walked away from it. Nobody join, however, a sponsor was needed.wanted to be a country person. We were stigmatized, Becausewewereablackfamily,nobodywouldbut we need to redefine our being for our generation. sponsorustojointheclub,saysWilson.ThatsIt is our ancestral connection.whenIreallystartedtounderstand,eventhoughWilson realizes that having her Airstream and a vast you could afford an Airstream didnt mean you wereamount of land is only possible because of her time accepted. in nature and her familys endurance in order to enjoy Wilsons dad was an IBM executive, but he was alsowhat they loved the most. anotedBoyScoutleaderandwasajoyformostFor me, its about choice, says Wilson. Purchasing childrentobearound.Onedayatacampground,thisAirstreamismywayofhonoringmyfamily, her father engaged the children in an activity. Somemaking all the sacrifices they made so I can be in a ofthechildrenreturnedtotheirparentsravingposition to make choices. aboutthismanwhowasawesome,coolandfun, and thats how the family received their sponsor for IMARA21'