Racism as a theme in my memoir: Ayesha’s story-the SZ memoirs

I love memoir writing. I love nonfiction books and writing nonfiction about my life. Nonfiction brings me JOY! I remember how it felt to have a 20 page memoir at the end of my last semester at NJCU in May 2015.  Racism is something I experience sometimes because I am African American when I go places I go. It affects my life whether I acknowledge it or not. It’s always there and it was there in the past for black people. When I first joined NAMI Mercer NJ racism was there but the racism was subtle I guess you could say. People were mostly nice even if they were “not friendly”. I became myself in my 30s. I’m 36 and I feel like I have made peace with my illness for a few years now. I go to Just Friends social group events for adults with mental illnesses and I feel like I’m a part of what’s going on with the group. We go out three times a month. It’s very nice. Lasley’s summer picnic is next Saturday. I have a ride with friends and I plan to go. I have three copies of my chapbook for Danita, Anastasia and Mindy (the woman doctor). I will collect $5 each from Mindy and Danita to cover the cost of my chapbook. Anastasia gave me the $5 for her chapbook already.