J. Marie Darden Finding Dignity

Finding Dignity

J. Marie Darden

Strebor, Jan 2006, $15.00

ISBN: 159309051X

Dignity Jackson, the daughter of biracial parents, struggles with just who she is. Her father died before she was born and her mother deserted her when she was three years old. Her Aunt Lette and Uncle Sam raised Dignity in a strict home, but showered her with love as if she was their offspring.

Now eighteen, Dignity accepts a scholarship to attend Morgan State University, but still struggles with her identity. Her feelings of inadequacy and not belonging anywhere or with anyone alienate her caring Italian boyfriend Sal and anger her best friends Stacy and Khalil. The trio intervenes demanding she get herself together; she agrees and begins a quest into the south to find her roots and ultimately accepting herself with pride and dignity.

This is a terrific coming of age tale of a teen who in spite of love showered on her from her adopted parents and friends feels lost and unwanted. J. Marie Darden paints her portrait of her lead protagonist with a dignity even as the confused teen still hurts fifteen years later from the maternal abandonment. Dignity's quest for a sense of self-worth by seeking out her roots until she finds something much greater make for a fabulous character study of a person on a journey to find her soul.

Harriet Klausner