The Request For Her Confidentiality
Alvera just had one request for her daughter Gail after sharing her tale with the group. She wanted Gail to keep her secret at least until she died, if not longer than that. Gail was heartbroken and saddened to learn of the request, but she managed to keep it a secret for the next 17 years. For the rest of that period, she kept her discoveries to herself and never revealed her mother’s secret. Even though Gail attempted to bring up the subject on a couple more occasions, her mother refused to discuss it further. Gail had gleaned something important from her mother’s narrative.
Gail Discovers The Real Reason
After so many years of mysteries and secrets, Gail had finally come to terms with her own innermost thoughts and feelings. She went on to tell the following story: “I’m sure my mother wished for a better life for herself and her children. And the way she saw it, she could have passed for white. She would have more employment opportunities as well as more opportunities in general in society. That meant she had to turn her back on her mixed-race origins and abandon her family in order to accomplish her goal. It was a significant financial investment. She would never be able to express herself in her actual authentic self.”
