WIFE. MOTHER. PHENOMENAL WOMAN. I never asked my mom or dad the whole time I was growing up why I looked different than everyone in my family. But growing up in rural small-town Iowa, I was keenly aware of it and it affected everything I did throughout my childhood. I was the only “black” child […]

MOTHER. POET. WRITER. The first strong memory I have is being on a ship with my beloved nursemaid, Gladys. I remember not feeling well and being in my little bed most of the time. By the time we docked though, I was feeling fine and ready for another adventure. I remember the two of us

FATHER. HARD WORKER. FAMILY. In December of 2018, my Aunt offered to send my wife and I DNA tests. She had been building the family tree and was also curious about my wife’s side of the family. We were really excited because we’d always wanted to do them to learn more about our ancestry. Our

WRITER. WIFE. COMPLETE. When you look at family tree charts, they’re beautiful. The roots run deep, hidden, all the way to Adam and Eve. Then comes the trunk, heavy with sturdy limbs. Each limb is covered in branches, laden with thousands upon thousands of leaves. That’s me, just one small leaf. Only my family tree

NURSE. RETIRED. CARETAKER. The man I’d always known as my father said some startling things on his deathbed. You know, Alesia, he remarked during those final weeks, your mom is not who she seems to be. Mark my words, he said another time, once I’m gone, your mother will marry again in less than six

MOTHER. ADVOCATE. STORYTELLER. I was born in Seattle to a single mom. My dad, who’d cleaned himself up briefly had relapsed into heroin use and left my mom just two months after they were married. They divorced before I was one. My mom’s parents were murdered when I was four—but that’s another story. So, it