Family/Belonging

From a young age, Rebecca Walker attempts to define herself through her family. When Grandma Miriam's reluctance to accept Walker becomes apparent, Walker wonders how she can fit into her extended family. Her father's side of the family seems to exhibit the most reluctance to accept Walker and the black side of her identity.

When Walker's parents divorce, her ability to identify to her family becomes even more strained. Walker often fails to make connections even with her peers that come from similar families. When she meets other Jewish young people with black family members, the subject never comes up.

Furthermore, Walker never shares a meaningful conversation about her race with her parents, in spite of their background in the civil rights movement. When Walker brings up this subject as an adolescent, her father brushes aside her concerns.

The most strain upon Walker's identity comes when her...