Unearthed Photo: The Matriarchs

Can we rule the world around us? Should we?

Apr 02, 2025

∙ Paid

The Unearthed Photo images are for everyone. The stories that go with the images are for paid subscribers. Whichever you are, thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy it!

There are four people in a black-and-white photo taken in the 1950s. Two women are standing up in elegant outfits. They’re gazing at something we can’t see to the left. A man and a woman are sitting down at a table before them. The man is also gazing to the left and smiling. The woman is out of focus and staring to the right. The room is elegant with a gilded mirror and tall windows. It is night time. — My grandmother Olga Briceño (left) standing next to fellow matriarch Caroline Tyson. (Photo courtesy of David and Kathy Tyson.)

Are all mothers matriarchs? Are all matriarchs mothers? To me the answer is no. Being a matriarch is a state of mind. A sense of your place within a group of people who may or may not be related to you. Matriarchs feel responsible for others, and many of them expect something in return for the care (writ large) they provide. Matriarchal power comes from a myriad of sources. Some matriarchs are loving and nurturing, and you don’t want to disappoint someone who gives so much. Some matriarchs are fearsome and controlling, and you don’t want to disappoint someone who pulls so many strings. Most matriarchs, I’ll wager, are somewhere in between. This is the story of two matriarchs. Olga Briceño, my grandmother, and Caroline Tyson, the mother of my father’s best friend, David. Two matriarchs who were formidable and knew it.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Love in Many Genres to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.