Marra B. Gad was born to a black father and a white Jewish mother in 1970 and adopted by a white Jewish family in Chicago. For her parents, it was love at first sight—but for the world, their family was anything but acceptable.
In black spaces, Marra was deemed “not black enough” and faced antisemitism. In Jewish spaces, she was mistaken for the help or told to leave. Even within her own family, racism loomed large, forcing her parents to sever ties with relatives who couldn’t accept her—including Marra’s once-beloved Great-Aunt Nette.
Years later, estranged and battling Alzheimer’s, Nette needed Marra’s help. Instead of revenge, Marra chose love, forging a bond as the disease erased her aunt’s prejudice. This powerful memoir is a testament to forgiveness, resilience, and choosing love in the face of hate.
