She still sought their approval and returned to their affections when needed. This constant state of flux made her wonder where she belonged and challenged her morals and values as she grew up. Personal observations of the civil rights movement in America, from both sides of the fence, as well as pop-culture references, provide a unique historical view. Shop your style at Shopbop.com! Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago. This book also is a story of race and class. She's a great writer and I hope she does other books. She could not even claim her child she was so embarrased and ashamed until 1996 when June practically begged her to participate in her documentary of her life for the Frontline news program entitled," Secret Daughter" concidentially which is also the title of this book ( of course I now want to see this documentary). Unfortunately, not every child who faces this type of heartless neglect will graduate from Harvard and become a reporter for Public Television, but praises to Ms. Cross, as she overcame a miserable childhood to accomplish great things. I feel a real kinship with June! Her mom also had a son at the age of 18 who lived primarily in foster care. So I grew up identifying as Black, not mixed, bi-racial or mulatto, even though I was often mistaken for being a Latina with my semi-straight/slightly wavy hair. I can totally relate to this book! I've always been fascinated by race, and though I am white (and therefore part of the "privileged" class), I have been discriminated against and bullied due to my Jewish maiden name. June Cross was born in 1954 to Norma Booth, a glamorous, aspiring white actress, and James “Stump” Cross, a well-known black comedian. However, in the end I was not as captured as I was in the beginning. Non-Fiction Books about Adoption/Foster Care. But I wasn't looking forward to going back to it. Very interesting book about growing up in the 50's and the problems she incurred as a product of a mixed race couple. WTH?!? I was there! Great Book! However, she was always referred to as someone other than her mother's daughter. -- practice abstinence, use a freaking condom or some sort of birth control, place your child up for an adoption. As a young child, I grew up in a predominately black neighborhood, and experienced the greatest feeling of acceptance I would have as a kid. June Cross was born in 1954 to Norma Booth, a glamorous, aspiring white actress, and James “Stump” Cross, a well-known black comedian. As a mom, it would be easy for me to judge Norma, June's biological Mother, for not having enough backbone to be the Mother she should have been.

June Cross is born to a white mother and black father and is asked to keep her two different worlds separate. Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 13 years ago. The book is highly recommended! Truly a wonderful read. So racism is never something I�ve really been able to grasp. I struggled throughout the narrative to withhold judgement of June's biological mother, No. I found the premise fascinating and it is a memoir, so the story is real. She was raised by a loving family friend and her husband. It truly makes me angry when I see people making babies with no sense of responsibility or willingness to raise a child. Sent by her mother to be raised by black friends when she was four years old and could no longer pass as white, June was plunged into the pain and confusion of a family divided by race. So I grew up identifying as Black, not mixed, bi-racial or mulatto, even though I was often mistaken for being a Latina with my semi-straight/slightly wavy hair. Be the first to ask a question about Secret Daughter. Everyone has a heart and deserves to be treated with respect and love. the book, however, is well-written; albeit confusing at times as she jumps back and forth in time. Neither James’ mother, nor Norma’s mother approved of the relationship, or the child, and both refused to speak with the couple. I struggled throughout the narrative to withhold judgement of June's biological mother, Norma. The Moth is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization.
It is so honest and personal an account of a life lived in two places, one black and one white and the inner struggles and outer slights that resulted from this displacement. You can also email Mother here: mother@thestationofthecross.com Welcome to Mother Miriam Live on The Station of the Cross Catholic Radio Network with Live Video Streaming brought to you by The Station of the Cross and LifeSite News. A very interesting memoir of a biracial child(caucasian and african-american). However, the pictures ruined it for me, because they gave much of the story away. It was interesting to see how a cohort made sense of the same issues I tried to make sense of. It is also a love story of a white mother who couldn't keep her bi-racial daughter, didn't always understand the shoes that she walked in, but loved her the best way she knew how from afar.

We’d love your help. The following, attribted to an unknown author, applies to this story, too: “Isn’t it ironic?

Race was certainly a strong presence, but it didn't overpower the story. Norma loved her daughter but once she realized her daughter could not pass as white, she sent her to live with a black couple in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The story of June Cross, a little girl born to a white mother and black father. This memoir was the straw that allows me to say with conviction that I hate memoirs. Passages where her mother says she had hoped she stayed "light skinned" so in a best case scenario she could "pass". Captures the society development in race relations as well as personal relationships, Great read - a complex story expertly and simply woven, A moving memoir as well as an informative history lesson. It is a great read, not in anyway sensationalized, just matter-of-factly relayed. Norma ended up marrying Larry Storch of F-Troop fame and they moved to Hollywood. The matter in which she treated all three of her children sickened me and I especially felt sad for June who Norma constantly created stories about her parentage ( " Oh, June is our adopted black daughter", " She's a friend of the family" to appease her rich white socalite friends. And although many may not agree with this next statement (and although it's not something I'd personally ever do) it is still our right as women in the US to choice to do -- to terminate a pregnancy. Regardless the negative circumstances, June and Norma manage to surmount the adversity and maintain a love for each other. Plus my brother is adopted, and of a completely different ethnicity, so it's something my family has always dealt wit. June’s mother Norma was an aspiring actress and a single woman when she gave birth to June. Fantastic characters in this book. The way she coped and healed would make any therapist proud and provides much healing for a family dealing with trauma forced by survival and coping with the predjudices of a society not willing to accept women or people of color "be all they could be." by Viking Adult, Secret Daughter: A Mixed-Race Daughter and the Mother Who Gave Her Away. I do think it is a good read for people who are interested in genuinely understanding some of the complexities faces by bi-racial children particularly in the earlier days post Civil Rights when it was a newer phenomenon.

We ignore those who adore us, adore those who ignore us, hurt those who love us and love those who hurt us.". Again, this was one of those books just happened to come across while searching for a different book. I read some reviews on Amazon and promptly placed book on hold at library. Even though I'm Caucasian and had both of my parents while I was growing up, I could almost feel the pain she went through with all the prejudice's, stereotyping, not having a mother around and the not knowing where she belonged.
So June was raised by a loving but strict black family in Atlantic City, and visited her Mom and her husband, also an actor, (F Troop) for a month in August every year where she enjoyed more freedoms and a differ. So June was raised by a loving but strict black family in Atlantic City, and visited her Mom and her husband, also an actor, (F Troop) for a month in August every year where she enjoyed more freedoms and a different lifestyle than back in New Jersey. at the end, she still seemed more focused on her mom's affirmation and legacy than confronting the pain of being forced to endure (and co-conspire) her mother's denial. I was able to follow along with her emotions and experiences as if I were there with her, and she developed the story in such a way that I only came to understand all of the angles of the story as she herself had, and as she chronicled her life.

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