Kim Roberts

So I did not even realize. I think it might have been a trip to New York where we visited family and friends. Then we went, you know, they took us to the coast. And I swam in the Atlantic Ocean. I was like, what? You guys have an ocean? And they're like, you have an ocean too. It's on the coast. I was like, okay. You know, so there's that. I grew up in a very Italian working class neighborhood.

And at the time I was growing up, you know, racism was still a thing. Not that it's not still a thing, but it was a thing. You know, the civil rights movement had just kind of happened and things were switching. And, you know, I was the neighbor, I say specifically Italian working class because it was... you know, very particular culture. There were two parent families everywhere.

And at the time I was growing up, you know, racism was still a thing. Not that it's not still a thing, but it was a thing. You know, the civil rights movement had just kind of happened and things were switching. And, you know, I was the neighbor, I say specifically Italian working class because it was... you know, very particular culture. There were two parent families everywhere.

And at the time I was growing up, you know, racism was still a thing. Not that it's not still a thing, but it was a thing. You know, the civil rights movement had just kind of happened and things were switching. And, you know, I was the neighbor, I say specifically Italian working class because it was... you know, very particular culture. There were two parent families everywhere.

There was no divorce. There was no separation. My parents, you know, split when I was seven. My dad was kind of back and forth, but it was like ambiguous as to what was going on in their marriage. And I, you know, I was just like, he's away on business. Like he's been away a long time.

There was no divorce. There was no separation. My parents, you know, split when I was seven. My dad was kind of back and forth, but it was like ambiguous as to what was going on in their marriage. And I, you know, I was just like, he's away on business. Like he's been away a long time.

There was no divorce. There was no separation. My parents, you know, split when I was seven. My dad was kind of back and forth, but it was like ambiguous as to what was going on in their marriage. And I, you know, I was just like, he's away on business. Like he's been away a long time.

And then, you know, growing up, because I was one of the only Black kids, if not the only, yeah, I was one of the only ones. There was, you know, we had friends down the street who were also Black family.

And then, you know, growing up, because I was one of the only Black kids, if not the only, yeah, I was one of the only ones. There was, you know, we had friends down the street who were also Black family.

And then, you know, growing up, because I was one of the only Black kids, if not the only, yeah, I was one of the only ones. There was, you know, we had friends down the street who were also Black family.

And what's interesting is that the girl who's closest to my age, she used to pick on me and fight with me at school to disassociate herself from me, you know, as opposed to where we could have maybe been allies and helped each other. Anything brown was a bad word.

And what's interesting is that the girl who's closest to my age, she used to pick on me and fight with me at school to disassociate herself from me, you know, as opposed to where we could have maybe been allies and helped each other. Anything brown was a bad word.

And what's interesting is that the girl who's closest to my age, she used to pick on me and fight with me at school to disassociate herself from me, you know, as opposed to where we could have maybe been allies and helped each other. Anything brown was a bad word.

I remember being, you know, on the playground and, you know, chocolate milk or caca merida or whatever was a bad word thrown in my direction. There were times I didn't think I'd make it home from school alive. And it was just, it was tough. It was really tough. There was a lot of bullying. There was a lot of name calling. The boy I like told me he couldn't date me because I was black.

I remember being, you know, on the playground and, you know, chocolate milk or caca merida or whatever was a bad word thrown in my direction. There were times I didn't think I'd make it home from school alive. And it was just, it was tough. It was really tough. There was a lot of bullying. There was a lot of name calling. The boy I like told me he couldn't date me because I was black.

I remember being, you know, on the playground and, you know, chocolate milk or caca merida or whatever was a bad word thrown in my direction. There were times I didn't think I'd make it home from school alive. And it was just, it was tough. It was really tough. There was a lot of bullying. There was a lot of name calling. The boy I like told me he couldn't date me because I was black.

This is in grade like six. He's like, now my dad would kill me. Kill me. I couldn't I couldn't take you to the dance. You know, so I grew up in a really kind of strange reality. But then on the other side, we had, thankfully, a really strong Caribbean circle of family and friends.

This is in grade like six. He's like, now my dad would kill me. Kill me. I couldn't I couldn't take you to the dance. You know, so I grew up in a really kind of strange reality. But then on the other side, we had, thankfully, a really strong Caribbean circle of family and friends.

This is in grade like six. He's like, now my dad would kill me. Kill me. I couldn't I couldn't take you to the dance. You know, so I grew up in a really kind of strange reality. But then on the other side, we had, thankfully, a really strong Caribbean circle of family and friends.

And my parents stayed, well, my mom stayed very connected, you know, and made sure that we were, you know, holidays and just weekends. We'd hang out with our cousins or whatever. So I had on this other side, a real validation of who I was and a real love for Caribbean culture. So I think that helped me maintain a sense of self even though I was being beaten down on at times.