PUBLICATIONS
Step into a world of discovery, where advocacy meets captivating storytelling, to reveal the intricate layers of justice, identity, and compassion. Each page invites readers on a transformative journey, fostering empathy and deep understanding. As gripping mysteries unfold, characters confront the complexities of resilience, and selfhood - navigating the profound challenges and illuminating the enduring power of compassion.
From Ethel Ray Nance to Kamala Harris: A Legacy of Equality and Justice
There is a powerful throughline of courage, conviction, and progress in the fight for racial and gender equity in America. Spanning nearly a century, this compelling narrative connects the life and legacy of civil rights trailblazer Ethel Ray Nance with the historic rise of Kamala Harris—the first Black and South Asian woman to serve as Vice President of the United States and a contender for the presidency.
Ethel Ray Nance, a fearless activist, broke barriers and worked alongside icons like W.E.B. Du Bois and Thurgood Marshall, laying the groundwork for generations of changemakers to come. Her legacy echoes through the accomplishments of Kamala Harris, whose ascent to the highest levels of American politics embodies the progress born of Nance’s early struggles.
Through rich archival research, intimate personal narratives, and incisive analysis, this book draws historical parallels between two extraordinary women. It explores enduring themes of justice, leadership, and resilience—offering both a tribute to the past and a call to action for the future.
Ethel Ray Nance: Living in the White, Gray, and Black
Ethel Ray Nance lived in a world layered with the complexities of identity, heritage, and injustice. From her Scandinavian mother and African American father, she inherited both pride and challenge - bridging cultures while navigating the racial dynamics of early 20th-century America.
Raised in a family defined by resilience, Ethel's journey from a young girl in Duluth to a barrier-breaking stenographer and Minnesota's first Black female police officer exemplifies courage in the face of systemic oppression. When tragedy struck mere blocks from her home, Ethel's life changed forever. Her determination to protect her community and stand against injustice led her to confront lawmakers, forge alliances, and become a pioneering voice for change.
This powerful exploration of family, history, and perseverance captures Ethel's remarkable story, intertwining themes of social justice and the unyielding pursuit of dreams. Through rich historical context, and deep emotional insight, readers are invited into Ethel's life where she fought to be recognized not just as Black or white, but as a woman of substance, vision, and purpose.
Ora Inga Ray (1893–1900) was just seven years old when her life was tragically cut short— allegedly poisoned by her own father on October 1, 1900. The second of four children in a biracial family living in Duluth, Minnesota, Ora was born to William Henry Ray, an African American man, and Inga Nordquist Ray, a Swedish immigrant. Her brief life held the promise of a future never realized.
That October would become the wettest month ever recorded in Minnesota’s weather history. The relentless rain seemed to echo the sorrow of a state mourning a child whose story was almost lost to time. Ora’s death, so early in the month, became the symbolic first tear in a flood of sorrow—a tragedy even the land itself could not forget.
Yet Ora Inga Ray’s story does not end in 1900. More than a century later, she is resurrected—brought back through the act of remembrance. With each person who reads or hears her name, Ora lives again. Her memory, once buried by silence and rain, now rises with purpose, reminding us of the lives history tried to erase—and the power we hold to reclaim them.
