"You are beautiful, my 'white mamma'
paisan
, and so are your four 'brown babies!' Thanks for sharing and helping me to understand my past upbringing a bit more. I just shared your
Catholic Review
article with our church staff. Blessings to you, Ken, and your beautiful family."
~ Donna in Maryland
"You have expressed your life as a 'white mamma' for all to read. You should go on TV and talk to us white folks. You are so gifted."
~ Sr. Dolly Glick,
MHSH
, in Maryland
[
my reply to Sister Dolly:
"I appreciate your sharing with me. I am far from the one
who should be on TV discussing this, but thanks for your vote of confidence. I have
much more work to do concerning it."]
"Enjoyed your column. It is eye opening when you really take time to listen to people. I commend the young folks for standing up to hatred in this world. I pray for peace and love."
~ Kim in Pennsylvania
"Beautiful xoxoxo."
~ Jeanie in Massachusetts
"Hi Hon. Want you to know I really enjoy your
SNIPPETS
every Friday and I thank you. Keep writing."
~ Alice in Maryland
"When my son married our wonderful daughter-in-law, he became the father of two biracial children who definitely favor their biological father in color. One time on a field trip, his daughter's classmate said to her, 'You didn't tell us your father was white!' My concerns are for my grandchildren and the ones, like you, that have become part of my new family. Except for my son's two daughters, the others are younger or preteen boys who will grow up to be black teenagers, and then black men. I don't have any answers and my angst does not even come close to knowing or understanding what they feel like in my white world, but I will continue to pray for the world."
~ Joanne in New York
"I love and appreciate your column in
The Catholic Review.
I have always considered my self to be non-racist, and yet I look back at my life and the comments and jokes I’ve made and, although it was always within family and close friends, it still reveals that I have a lot to work on. I appreciate the work you do and your voice, your VOICE! That’s why these dialogs are so important. I do hope and pray that this time there will be an awakening. There are some that will never change, but hopefully it will be overshadowed by those that do."
~ Mercy in Maryland
"Thank you for your perspective. Very interesting and enlightening. Wishing you and your family health and happiness, always."
~ Debe, former Baltimorean, now a resident of Topsail Island, NC
"I finally got to your short story in last weeks
SNIPPETS
. So powerful and beautifully written. I look forward to reading your new book. I also appreciated your article this week of you and Ken and how you have navigated your families’ life and relationships with grace and humor."
~ Peace, Monica in Maryland
"I, too, have a biracial family. My daughter is married to a black man. They adopted his nephew at age 5, now 14. I have always treated him as my grandson and love him dearly. They also have two daughters together, none of the children are the same shade, just beautiful in their own skin. Our son-in-law has had a few encounters ... sadly, at church during greetings, an out-of-towner pulled his hand away, refraining from shaking hands with this sweet man! The treatment, or lack of treatment, from various church members has not gone unnoticed by me. Sad when they speak to my white grand-babies and overlook the biracial ones. I REALLY struggle with this! Others see no difference and are kind and loving. Praise God for good people.
Our main concern with a biracial marriage was - and still is - what their children would encounter. I would not trade my son-in-law or grand-babies for anything!!! I love them for who they are!!! Praying that with God’s guidance, we as a nation can heal the broken hearts of the mistreated and the mindset of those breaking hearts! God has blessed America. Moving forward as ONE NATION UNDER GOD is needed now more than ever!"
~ Nancy in West Virginia
