Black like me White like me

The baby's cute . . . why don't you adopt her?<br><br>If her own mother doesn't want her why would I?<br><br>This conversation took place between two nurses in thedelivery room right aft er I was born to a 16-year oldunmarried mother. This was a precursor of the kind ofstruggle my life would be unti l I stood up and shouted IAM SOMEBODY! Why did it take me so long???<br><br>I don't want you to think I am harping on the bad thingsthat happened in my life. Despite everything I am anincredibly positi ve person who has taken a licking andkept right on ti cking! My saving grace is mentoring andstanding up for those who just need someone to stand upfor them. Maybe one of these days I will be more able tostand up for myself. I'm getti ng there. This is just my lifehoney simply the way it is. I am telling you my story. Thisis a story about success and giving back to a communitythat mostly kicked me in the teeth.