"Therapy is a real tool and resource." - J'ai Brown, Black Same Race Adoptee
J'ai Brown's parents struggled to conceive. Then, SURPRISE! Two years after adopting J'ai, they went on to conceive FIVE children (including a set of twins). A self-described "daddy's girl," J'ai has close relationships with her father and all of her siblings. The relationship with her mother, however, has been much more complicated, with childhood memories of her mother threatening to send her back or saying their family had five children instead of six.
Being intentional and deliberate about working through the impact of the exclusion she felt as a child has been life changing. With the support of Black, adoption trauma informed therapists, J'ai has stepped into owning her voice and her story. "I want to use my experience, my voice to be a blessing to other adoptees.... I want to use my experience to be that person that I did not have growing up."
This healing journey is not only for the little girl that she was, but also for the little girl that she and her husband are raising. "I got a little queen, a young queen that I'm raising and I don't want her to have the experience of not feeling like she's enough, not feeling valued, not feeling seen and heard."
In the midst of her hopeful search to one day connect with biological family, J'ai is leaning on her faith as she continues to define and embrace all the beautiful pieces of herself.
SHOW NOTES
CONNECT WITH US!
- Black to the Beginning on Instagram
- Black to the Beginning on Facebook
- Black to the Beginning on Youtube
- J'ai Brown on Instagram @jlb_piecesofme
RECOMMENDED ADOPTION RESOURCES
- Therapy for Black Girls
- LISTEN: Voices of African American adoptees on The Black Adoption Podcast
- Black Adoptee Support Group on Instagram @blackadopteesupportgroup
- REQUIRED READING: Black to the Beginning Reads Bookshop - A carefully curated list of #BTTBreads...for the culture!
SUPPORT THE BLACK ADOPTION PODCAST
- SUPPORTER: Make a monthly contribution of $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99
- PayPal/Zelle: info@blacktothebeginning.com
- SHOP Black to the Beginning
SHARE YOUR BLACK ADOPTION EXPERIENCE
#ADOPTION #BLACKADOPTION #AFRICANAMERICANADOPTION
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.