My name is Myrtice Edwards and I am a first time published author with a book entitled, “Dirty Sally….the untold stories of mixed race children, who find a new identity, love, faith and forgiveness through GOD”.. There is an interesting story behind the title. I was often taunted or teased about being biracial. Some of my family members and friends called me Dirty Sally. Dirty Sally is an old slavery term used to identify the descendants or offspring of Sally Hemings, a former slave and the late President Thomas Jefferson. Sally Hemings was biracial her mother was ½ white and ½ black and her father white. Sally Hemings could pass as white during that time, but she opted not to embrace a false racial identity invented as a stigma. Sally was racially ambiguous which explains why the children that Sally and President Thomas had were passing as white. The nickname dirty Sally is just one label of many used against biracial individuals who appear to pass for white. Biracial individuals have been negatively affected by stereotypes because of their unique family structures and dual racial identity. Often times, biracial children feel pressured to assume mono-racial identity, while at the same time experience guilt feelings of betrayal and deception towards the parent whom they did not identify. Dirty Sally ….the untold stories of mixed race children, who find a new identity, love, faith and forgiveness through GOD attempts to raise awareness among the biracial community. Dirty Sally is a Christian book and it is My conviction to inform children so that they can learn how to make better choices by referring to biblical scriptures. Children all around the world will resist social practices and cultural attitudes that are hurtful and unfair.
Myrcedes is a strong 8 year old girl who was persecuted by her peers, especially her best friend Tyishia. Myrcedes is racially ambiguous and her friends don’t know how to deal with it, so the result is racial angst. Children and some adults are afraid of what they don’t understand. The inability of the biracial child to culturally or racially identify with both parents may cause that child to experience feelings of disloyalty and enormous guilt over rejection of one parent. Despite Myrcedes’ misfortune, Mrs. Smith helps to guide her daughter spiritually through her racial identity issues. Myrcedes is biracial, her mom is African American and her dad is Caucasian. Myrcedes was very accepting of her dual racial identity, but she learned an early lesson that not everyone is. Myrcedes mom (Mrs. Smith) explained to her daughter that some people including Miss Robinson (Tyisha’s mother) are not very accepting of children who are of mixed heritage. Racial identity is such a powerful ascriptive marker that nobody not even Myrcedes Smith can escape! Dirty Sally helps children to deal with social pressures of being biracial through a loving Christian way: Then Tyishia shouted, “Cry, Dirty Sally, cry!” Myrcedes stopped and shouted back, “Stop it, Tyishia, don’t say that!” The children laughed uncontrollably, and suddenly all of them began to chant, “Cry, Dirty Sally, cry.” Myrcedes tried to fight back the tears but she couldn’t. “My name is Myrcedes not Dirty Sally, so stop calling me that,” she cried. “That’s not how you’re supposed to play the game!” Then Tyishia replied, “Don’t get mad at us, white girl, you’re the one that thinks you’re black.” Myrcedes gathered her strength and stated, “I may be mixed but I am not confused—you are,” and she ran all the way home. Myrcedes was very upset with all of her friends for being so mean and inconsiderate. “Myrcedes, what happened?” asked Mom. Myrcedes caught her breath and she was panting and trying to explain at the same time. Myrcedes’ mom had a long talk with her daughter on the way home. She explained to her daughter that some people, including Miss Robinson, are not very accepting of children who are of mixed heritage. Just like her very own family members in Virginia. Myrcedes’ mom talked with her daughter about maintaining a relationship with God. “Once you have a relationship with God, you will no longer be defined by gender, race, or ethnicity.” Myrcedes’ mom helped Myrcedes to remember the story in the Bible about the women of Sychar. Once the women of Sychar placed their faith in Jesus, they received a spiritual identity that transcended all other roles and relationships. 1. Have you or someone you know experienced difficulty in relating effectively to people you view different from yourself? 2. Did the differences make you feel uneasy? 3. How should Christians reach out to people who are different from you in habits, faith, race, or culture? (Read Galatians 3:26-29.)
About Myrtice J. Edwards
Myrtice Edwards was educated at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, majoring in Spanish and Philosophy. Myrtice moved to Chicago to attend graduate school at Roosevelt University. She holds an M.A. in Sociology, specializing in race relations. Myrtice is married to Charles Edwards, author of America's First and they have three beautiful daughters-Myridian, Myrcedes and Myriah. Mrs. Edwards attends Northshore SDA church in Chicago, Illinois. This is her first published book, but there are many more to come.
My name is Myrtice Edwards and I am a first time published author with a book entitled, “Dirty Sally….the untold stories of mixed race children, who find a new identity, love, faith and forgiveness through GOD”.. There is an interesting story behind the title. I was often taunted or teased about being biracial. Some of my family members and friends called me Dirty Sally. Dirty Sally is an old slavery term used to identify the descendants or offspring of Sally Hemings, a former slave and the late President Thomas Jefferson. Sally Hemings was biracial her mother was ½ white and ½ black and her father white. Sally Hemings could pass as white during that time, but she opted not to embrace a false racial identity invented as a stigma. Sally was racially ambiguous which explains why the children that Sally and President Thomas had were passing as white. The nickname dirty Sally is just one label of many used against biracial individuals who appear to pass for white. Biracial individuals have been negatively affected by stereotypes because of their unique family structures and dual racial identity. Often times, biracial children feel pressured to assume mono-racial identity, while at the same time experience guilt feelings of betrayal and deception towards the parent whom they did not identify. Dirty Sally ….the untold stories of mixed race children, who find a new identity, love, faith and forgiveness through GOD attempts to raise awareness among the biracial community. Dirty Sally is a Christian book and it is My conviction to inform children so that they can learn how to make better choices by referring to biblical scriptures. Children all around the world will resist social practices and cultural attitudes that are hurtful and unfair.
Myrtice Edwards was educated at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, majoring in Spanish and Philosophy. Myrtice moved to Chicago to attend graduate school at Roosevelt University. She holds an M.A. in Sociology, specializing in race relations. Myrtice is married to Charles Edwards, author of America's First and they have three beautiful daughters-Myridian, Myrcedes and Myriah. Mrs. Edwards attends Northshore SDA church in Chicago, Illinois. This is her first published book, but there are many more to come.