Archive for August, 2013

Where Are You From?

Where Are You From?

“Where are you from?” is a simple question. The answer, however, can become rather complex.

When I am asked where I’m from, people expect me to say a Caribbean island, and look at me a bit more closely when I say Guatemala because I don’t look like a representative of the Mayan population. Can I claim being Guatemalan, though? Growing up, my friends were by and large Germans and I spoke primarily German at home. I was the only Black kid ...

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#5 In Amazon’s Bestseller list: Stepparenting and Blended Families Catagory

#5 on Amazon

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August: Month of Transitions

August: Month of Transitions

White flower arrangementIt’s August: the month where days leading up to my birthday later in the month are days of remembrance for all those dear to me, with the exception of my beloved Fred, transitioned out of this plane… in August. On August 9, many years ago, my mother Rosa passed, and three years ago, on August 8 it was Ruth’s turn. I ...

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Being Middle Class: The Pain of White adoptees

Being Middle Class: The Pain of White adoptees

Lately, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with several adult adoptees, all White Americans, aged between 30 and 70 years old, who were adopted in the States as babies or very young children. They contacted me after reading Split at the Root. Because of the immediacy of the emotional content in the book, they felt they knew me well enough to open up about their stories. While we hurt differently because our experiences are different, our understanding of ...

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