I was born March 11th, 1969 in Sauk Centre MN. It is 100 miles NW of Minneapolis in Stearns County, where St. Cloud is the County Seat.

Knowing this is close to Red Lake Indian Reservation, as a child I imagined I might be part Native. Many people over the years had commented that they could "see the Indian in me," and I liked this feeling. My parents always supported my African American identity, and would have been open to any first nation roots I may have found. They also supported my desire to search for my birth family. When I was 13 my mom told me they would help me then if I was ready, even though it was illegal. I was not ready until I was an adult, and then went away to New York for grad school. I felt I really needed to be in Minnesota to do this.