In 1997, Becky Thompson’s life was upended when she became the ‘sudden-mother’ to nine-year-old Adrian. Mothering without a Compass is a candid, lively memoir detailing her first year as a white lesbian raising an African American boy in a world not built for their family.
Thompson navigates the steep learning curve of multiracial parenting, from the mundane challenges of school hunting to profound conversations about identity and racism. The narrative balances humor with vulnerability, exploring how an open adoption and nontraditional family structure force a confrontation with class, gender, and the weight of the American racial divide.
The story culminates in a poignant meeting between Thompson and Adrian’s biological mother, as they work to build a bridge of mutual respect across cultural and religious differences. This is an essential read for anyone committed to raising justice-minded children and understanding the complexities of ‘queer kinship.’
Details
| ISBN: 9780816636358 |
| Subtitle: White Mother’s Love, Black Son’s Courage |
| Genre: Black Interest; Parenting & Families |
| Subject(s): African American Young Men/ Family Relationships; Lesbian Mothers; Lesbian Mothers/ United States/ Family Relationships; Women, White; Women, White/ United States/ Family Relationships |
| Publication Date: 2000-09-25 |
| Original Publication Date: |
| Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press |
| Language: English |
| Format: Hardcover |
| Pages: 200 |
| Rating: |
| Notes: |
| Book_ID: 105611 |