Something extraordinary happened recently. I sat down with Ginevra Grasso of Conoscere TV. She is the presenter of an internationally broadcast Italian television channel. Together, we talked about my book, Beyond the Goat Pen: An African Woman’s Journey. The interview is now live on YouTube. So today, I want to share what we discussed. Because […]
We’ve spent eleven weeks talking about what’s broken. We discussed toxic relatives who harm children. We explored cultural practices that enable abuse. We examined family dynamics that exploit the vulnerable. This final week is about what you’re building instead. The most powerful response to generational dysfunction isn’t just stopping the harm. It’s creating something better.
Here’s what nobody tells you about protecting your children from toxic family members: The protection doesn’t erase what already happened. Your child has already absorbed messages from relatives who hurt them. They’ve already witnessed harm. They’ve already learned patterns that will affect them. Setting boundaries stops future harm. But it doesn’t automatically undo past harm.
“You’re making your children lose their culture.” “They won’t know where they come from.” “You’re raising them to be too Western.” “You’re ashamed of your heritage.” If you’ve set boundaries with toxic relatives or refused to participate in harmful cultural practices, you’ve probably heard these accusations. They’re designed to make you feel guilty, to make
Keeping Culture, Rejecting Harm: How to Pass Down Heritage Without Passing Down Toxicity Read More »
