FORK MOUNTAIN portrays the pivotal moment in a young person’s life when she discovers that her parents won’t always be able to protect her.
It’s a significant milestone in every child’s journey, pushing them toward independence and self reliance.
May’s journey is complicated by the fact that she has no mentors or direct racial mirrors to learn how to navigate America’s complex racial landscape.
In a world where people of color can be targeted with violence based solely on their appearance, children of color must be taught how to navigate racism and protect themselves.
This is a common struggle that transracial adoptees face, as many parents do not attempt to connect with their child’s birth culture or related communities, nor are they advised to do so by adoption agencies.
White adoptive parents often assume that love is enough to give their child all the support they need to navigate a world that is sometimes unkind to people of color.
Love is wonderful, but knowledge is power.