By: Marcia King-Gamble
www.lovemarcia.com
Freedom means different things to different people. Freedom to me is keeping an open mind to possibilities. Captivity does not necessarily mean being physically restrained, It means being mentally restrained as well. This condition prevents us from becoming the best that we can be.
Why do I say that? Because
I’m a woman of color who grew up outside of the USA. Some might call me a
child of privilege, if privilege means having two working parents who owned a
home and were able to afford a gardener and housekeeper (although help was cheap back
then.) I was fortunate enough to attend a
prestigious private school, and belong to every club there was. My family gave tea parties because that’s what you did on a small British island.
All of those things changed when my family moved to the United
States. The house was replaced by a tiny apartment in Brooklyn New York. Gone
was the cook and gardener. My mother who had earned the equivalent of a masters in the UK, discovered that her
degrees wasn't worth much in the United States. She accepted a position as an assistant
teacher, working for those far less educated than she. Eventually, she
went back to school to regain the credits she lost. My father, a civil engineer,
found it impossible to regain his status. He went to work as a technician for a
company providing appliances to major restaurants. A big step down for a man used
to running his own show.
In the USA, we were not living the dream. I was on a constant search to find out who I was. Where I came from, I wasn’t
a minority, nor was color ever a barrier to getting ahead. Here I was in a strange land with a thick accent, and completely lost when it came to American
black jargon, To many
I was a “Tom.” I also didn’t walk around
dropping the race card or feeling that every white person was out to get me. I never considered that having nutbrown skin would hold me back.
My parents, despite experiencing a huge financial loss, (three
Eastern Caribbean dollars equaled one US dollar) never lost their pride or
determination. They were insistent my sister and I continue our education at private
schools. I am still grateful for that extra financial effort and that push.
In time, my family bought a house, and a three story one at
that. My mother regained her masters and began working toward her PHD. At one
point, she became an assistant principal. I went off to college, and shortly after
graduation, began a career with a prestigious international airline. My travels
took me all over the world and led to an executive status at yet another company.
English was something I always excelled at, and while I
could tell a good story, I never thought of becoming a writer. Although, that did not stop me from submitting
a manuscript when the multicultural market opened. That's where I got my first shot.
It was an opportunity to
be heard, and write stories I cared about. I am so grateful, I did not allow my mind to hold me
back.
I share this story to let readers know that the only thing that can stop you from achieving goals is “fear itself.” Don't allow yourself to become a prisoner to self doubt. If I had listened to folks (including relatives) who constantly repeated, “people of color don’t do that,” “or you won’t get ahead because you’re black.” These can be self-fulfilling prophecies if you think like that. Free your mind and keep it open to infinite possibilities.
Like the adage says, where there’s a will there’s a way. My
way didn’t include handouts, although I did educate myself on any opportunities
available. I refused to hold myself prisoner
and believe that my skin color made me a lesser person, and would prevent me from
living the dream. I refused to be sucked into that line of thinking because it
only breeds negativity and fear.
Think big and let nothing hold you back. Don't imprison yourselves with negative thoughts and allow others to suck you into
their vortex of despair.
Black, white, red or yellow, the world is yours for the taking. Don’t let others define
who you are and what your life should be.
Act on your dreams and let them come true!
On October 19th Holiday Fake-Out will be released. I am part of this amazing holiday anthology. you'll get to read from 22 talented authors and all for the bargain price of 99 cents/ You can pre-order using the links below. My story is Kwanzaa 'pon a time. I'd love a review.
About
Marcia King-Gamble
Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble
originally hails from a sunny Caribbean Island where the sky and ocean are the
same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive has spent
most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has
penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. She has contributed to Michael Fiore’s DigitalRomanceInc
and served as a moderator on the now defunct eHarmony advice boards. Having witnessed the bad, the ugly, and the
not so good in relationships, she still prefers to write about happily ever
after. Caring for her animal family keeps her grounded and sane.
Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com
or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS
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list.
