Rilia “Lia” Brandon.
I was born on the Southside of Chicago, Illinois and raised in the Mennonite Valley of Virginia. Transitioning from Virginia’s Countryside for the academic year to Chicago’s City life for summer family fun made my “Black” questionable. I was always too “different” for my friends of color in the Mennonite Valley and too “country” for my City cousins. Because of my commitment and love for good people, I have grown to be just fine accepting that there are different levels of being Black American. In fact, the different philosophies or “levels” can be easier to digest and appreciate if the focus becomes culture appreciation, diversity and inclusion.
