By Ereka Howard
According to Dictionary.com, identity is defined as the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, under varying aspects or conditions. I spent two years in foster care and then was adopted as a toddler. As a child growing up in a predominantly African American family, one reason I struggled with identity was due to not looking like the family that adopted me. When I was younger, I remember looking at my parents and thinking maybe they really were my biological parents and just didn't want to tell me. Maybe a swan brought me in and dropped me off at their door.

by Hannah Andrews
It took me a while to warm up to this month’s theme, “Loving Ourselves.”  I didn’t feel qualified to write about “self-love.” My cup has never runneth over with self-confidence. I think the adopted kid in me built an inner narrative. After all, if my own mother, the one who was supposed to love me the most, gave me away, what real value could I have? I’m sure some schoolyard bullies reinforced this belief in me, but I definitely had my own inner bully. I learned to live with the highs and lows throughout my life, though that’s an understatement. My highs never seemed that high and my lows were excruciating.

by D. Scott Cooper, Adopted Person

One day as a toddler, I saw myself in a car bumper.
I was surprised to see how dark my reflection was that Summer.

My skin was dark brown, but my sister called it tan.
Thank God I became a good athlete, cause that gave me worth with man.

Then the College days behind me now, where I felt so in between.
I thought that I was hiding, but my dark skin was clearly seen.

Now I run the race, like a boxer beats the air,
just hoping there’s a finish line to find some solace there.

So many years have passed since I stared at my reflection,
I’ve almost now forgotten how deep was my deception.

These days my hair’s much straighter, and my color almost passes,
but now after all these years, I don’t care to please the White masses.

Thank God I no longer look at that dark face in the mirror,
and wish the person looking back were really not here.

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