I'm Hannah
championing the healing and humanity of transracial foster youth and adoptees
As an adult transracial adoptee, writer, and educator I employ my personal experiences and formal education to make the journeys of fellow transracial adoptees to self-acceptance and identity reclamation less isolating and injurious.
My Story
Without the racial literacy necessary to navigate racism, the endless song playing in my mind was "I don't belong".
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, to a white birth mother and Black birth father, I was adopted privately and domestically adopted. The Jacksons eagerly brought home their last baby and their only baby girl and raised me in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I enjoyed romping around our suburban neighborhood with my older brothers. And despite the simple joys of childhood, it seemed my joys were often being interrupted by the bias and discrimination of others.
In a town comprised of not even one percent of people who shared my brown skin and curly hair, I didn't know how to navigate these painful experiences. Deeply lonely and insecure, I longingly searched for if and where I belonged.
My journey seeking what was missing continued on for years. In those years, I found solace in the croon of Ella Fitzgerald, the flowing poetry of Q-Tip, the prose of Audre Lorde. I found beautiful friendships within my community. I found love with a beautiful Black man and in our two little brown babies.
Ultimately, with all of the help of those previously listed, and many more, I found myself. I was what I was missing. Today I work tirelessly support transracial foster youth and adoptees as they find all the magic that they are, too.
Where do I begin?
Step into the transformative journey awaiting within these pages. This workbook is not just a collection of exercises; it's a beacon of empowerment for transracial adoptees and their families. Crafted with insight gleaned from heartfelt conversations and deep introspection, it's a testament to the resilient voices often unheard.
As you embark on this journey, you'll encounter the echoes of lived experiences and the resounding theme that transcends generations: transracial adoptees feeling adrift in a sea of systemic racism, yearning for the sturdy anchor of parental support. Through candid discussions and poignant narratives, this workbook unveils a stark reality: the prevailing sense of being ill-equipped and unprotected in the face of adversity.
But amidst these revelations lies a powerful call to action. It beckons adoptive parents to shed the cloak of silence and fragility, to step boldly into the role of guardians and advocates. With every exercise and reflection, we challenge the status quo, daring to rewrite the narrative of passive bystanders. Instead, we champion a new paradigm—one where adoptive parents stand resolute in the face of injustice, becoming steadfast allies in the fight against racism and white supremacy.
Imagine the profound transformation awaiting within these pages—a world where the burden of protection shifts from the shoulders of transracial adoptees to the embrace of their families. Together, let's embark on a journey of empowerment, empathy, and profound change. It's time to rewrite the story and forge a future where every adopted and fostered child feels seen, heard, and fiercely supported.
.png)
