mily in 1949, who had a different cultural experience because of the color of their skin. A five-year-old girl grew up in an extended family that included an ancestor who had experienced slavery and another ancestor who spoke a native African/Australian language that was unrecognizable by European Americans.

She was the product of two great grandmothers who had sons murdered, one in a situation comparable to a lynching and the other one in an unresolved murder. She was the product of a paternal grandfather who was denied the right to write his mother's true name on official documents because the color of her skin. The lessons learned by this young girl were those of resilience, principles, values, skills, observance, and persistence. Most of all a person has to know one's own identity and values, and not what another person thinks of you. The community embraced this young girl and taught her the lessons that were the foundation for an individual who evolved from a family and a community that loved, valued, and created a remarkable and responsible human being who is still making contributions to this world.

EPK