Once An Orphan

Aziza was just 8 years old when she remembers being touched by her biological father for the first time. By age 16, she was carrying their first of five children and he got on one knee, asking her to be his wife. Homeschooled with little to no interaction to what normal life was, she didn't have much to compare this behavior to. Our generation appreciated music by The Fugee's, not knowing the vide...

​ @GenieJoniqua is a child advocate and author. In her book titled, What Does the Mirror Show Me? Brown Girl World, she talks about her young life of being exposed to sex by her parent and being sexually abused by her brother. Now an advocate for young girls who are being victimized, she found her voice in becoming theirs. On Instagram, she's @joniquathegenie, showing what it looks like to put you...

Host of @theadoptionjourneypodcast and co-founder of The Black Adoptees Meetup, Tarcia Smith sat down to share her own adoption journey with me. Tarcia started talking about her story as a "ted talk", thinking she would share her story and be done. What she thought and what God wanted were two different things. Not knowing what this would become, she's spoken with adoptees from ALL OVER THE WORLD,...

He was young and poor growing up in Jim Crow south. A 13 year old Walter Curtis Miller had eyes for clothes and nice things he just couldn’t afford. When his father passed away, leaving his mother to raise the kids on her own, the only thing that mattered were their necessities. Young Walter wanted more and knew he could get it. Even though getting it meant stealing from time to time, he put his p...

Outside of her reunion, the continuation doesn't get much better. Alicia continues to heal, learn, grow and teach. What's she's learned as an adoptee AND an adoptive mother will help all adoptive parents in the process. For starters, let's not rewrite the narrative of who the child came from and what they should know.

A wife, a mother, a grandmother, a Michigan native, an entrepreneur and above all, a God-fearing woman, Alicia Williams has done it all. From serving as a board member of the National Association of Adoptees and Parents, Alicia works diligently to support and advocate for this community. As an LDA (Late Discovery Adoptee), she has learned the importance of being vocal and advocating for such an ov...

Josh Santiago, founder of Empowering Cuts, was a troubled teen himself. In and out of jail from 12-24 years old, he was released with a changed mindset of "doing something right for the first time in my life." After earning his license to barber, he began to initially serve the Philadelphia homeless community, by providing free haircuts to homeless men. From this, he attracted the attention and ha...

Patrice Hudson is an adoptee hoping to find truth. Adopted at a young age, she, like most adoptees had questions and sought after learning who she really was and who she came from. Afraid that her adoptive parents didn't want her to ever learn the truth, she remained silent until she decided to speak out loud and document her adoption story. Adopted with a biological brother, she had some DNA conn...

For fun, Janeen Jackson decided to take a DNA test with her brothers at 46 years old. However, what was initially thought to be fun, turned out to be a devastating discovery, as she found that she was no match to her brothers. So, this test must be a scam for people to get money. Believing to have the resemblance of her grandmother, the thought of adoption never crossed her mind. Not only did she...

Kimberly Ann held in so much beginning at a very early age. She was introduced to her mother, who was born with down symdrome, but didn't know why her grandmother was raising her. When she later learned she was a product of r*pe, she was filled with emotions, wondering who her biological father was and how he could do something like this to such a vulnerable human being. Filled with hurt, she had...

She was more than a drug user. From her very beginning, God had ordained this moment for Natasha to speak of His goodness. On the morning of April 16, 2021, Natasha LaTour was homeless. Having very little to maintain in her personal life, she found herself shot 10 times by accused serial killer, Wesley Brownlee and praying to God she wouldn't die. The alledged gunman is believed to have already mu...

Kimmie always knew she was adopted, but it was later in life when she learned that her biological mother was just a 13 year old girl and biological father was in his 50's? Do we still call it that R word or is the truth also forbidden?

In 1972, a young lady had given birth to her second daughter. Raised by her single father at the time, she was told she couldn't bring another baby into the home. That baby was given up for adoption. It's 53 years later and that baby decides to go on the road of discovery and find her truth. After putting in the work, Tracy discovered more about her biological family, including BOTH parents. Howev...

Terrance Brown was shot and killed while sitting inside of a vehicle causing no harm to anyone. David Carter was shot and killed in his home, causing no harm to anyone. Both men, loved by their families, senselessly killed and there's been NO justice. So, I say if Black lives don't matter to Black people, let's stop marching until we get it together. #BLM #blacklivesmatters #blacklivesmatter #unso...

Terry always knew he was adopted. An enjoyable experience, he still wanted and deserved to know his biological family. Growing up with good parents afforded him the opportunity to have the life he may not have had, otherwise. Thankful for the decision of his biological mother, he understood her rationale and was even more blessed at their reconnection. Sharing his story, Terry believes adopted chi...

As we know, not every victim made it. Most were beaten, raped, murdered and eaten; however, prior to being caught on the night of July 22, 1991, Tracy Edwards was able to escape and the nation learned the name, Jeffrey Dahmer. Admitting to murdering 11 men, Dahmer's stint in the military also gave him the opportunity to victimize other men. Mr. Billy Joe Capshaw was one of them and here, he tells...

Known for being one of the worst serial killers of all time, Jeffrey Dahmer was satanic. He drugged, raped, murdered, dismembered and consumed his victims. Admitting to eating the heart of one of his victims, Jeffrey was a true demon. Serving time in the military, Preston K. Davis, became one of his victims and shares his story of surviving Jeffrey Dahmer.

Sabrina was born to a Black woman and a White Man, but immediately placed for adoption. Her White adoptive mother made it easy for her to not have a "good" experience. Abused and neglected, she found herself being bounced around from state to state and from one troubled teen home to another. From being called a "Nigger" to Suzie Q", she felt no love or safe space in the home where she was raised.

On January 10, 2013, Kendrick "KJ" Johnson attended school like any other normal day. His father, Kenneth Johnson, said when he didn't hear from his son after school, he knew something was wrong. But when he didn't hear from him by midnight, he knew his son was dead. Initially, the county concluded that this was an accidental death. However, after the family conducted a private autopsy citing blun...

Stephanieanne is a TESTIMONY! From a young girl, she had an attraction for other girls. Growing up in the UK, to Jamaican-born parents, she knew her homosexual lifestyle wasn't a thing they would ever accept. However, the lustful feelings continued to arouse, and she believed life as a man would be the only fitting lifestyle for herself. She had comfort in sleeping with women and the thought to tr...

Ta'Za Simone was a normal child, growing up in a home with her mother and older sister. So, how did she end up pregnant and giving birth to her mother's boyfriend's child at 12 years old?

Known for her Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes exercise, the only and only Jane Elliott sat for a conversation with me. The anti-racism activist has been committed to changing the theory of race by skin color for several decades. An educator who believes there's only one race, she stands completely against people being recognized as "Black" and "White." There's only one race-the human race.

In his very early years, @boujeeboy95 was just a "normal" kid. After his parents split, he was shared between two homes. At the young age of 7, his older cousin by 10/11 years introduced him to sex through homosexuality. He was raped. He was traumatized. After a number of times, he became what he was a victim of. Can this really happen in the Arab community and Muslim faith? Well, of course! But w...

On Instagram, he's unleavened_bread1 and he faced a hard life being bounced around in foster care. From one home to the next and center to center, he found it hard to make friends and fit in. While his mother dealt with addiction, the state gave his father a difficult time to gain custody. Naturally, this would cause a child to feel alone. A year out of high school, Triston felt like life was no l...

Ms. Melanie was just a toddler when she was molested by her grandfather. Unaware of what he was doing, her 5 year old mind couldn't fathom why he would want to kill her, but he wasn't! Not understanding how she was being used for his orgasm, she felt like her life was ending.