"Family is where life begins and love never ends. It’s the roots that anchor us in a world of change.” ~ Alicia Keys

Tag: Sibling Parent

S. Pearl Sharp talks about her sister

Playwright, film actress, stage actress, and poet S. Pearl Sharp (1942 – ) was among the cast of Gordon Parks’ The Learning Tree, and Minstrel Man. Sharp has also published six books and produced and directed eight films and stage plays.

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Sharp speaks about her younger sibling and the challenges faced by their parent’s divorce. Sharp speaks about her impacting her younger sibling by stepping into the mother role occasionally as their parents focused on their divorce. As Sharp shared her sister’s accomplishments she smiled and displayed a sense of accomplishment. Additionally she seems very proud of her sister and, as she comments, is very well pleased that her sister is a mother who has Black sons who have never done drugs or been to jail. While Sharp shares that she decided to not have children, she became a teacher and chose not to do a single adoption, which she comments is slightly connected to her mother being a single mother. 

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Joyce Owens describes her relationship with her siblings

Joyce Owens Anderson is a Mixed-media artist. Joyce Owens Anderson (1947 – ) was an artist and art educator whose artwork was featured in many galleries and publications. She was curator of the Galleries Program at Chicago State University.

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Anderson begins this section of her interview by talking about some of the tension that existed between her brother and her step-sibling, but no conflict between her and her brother In fact she shares that her brother took the role of the protector in her life, assuming the role of her father. She also shares the important role of her older sister, as her mother traveled a lot, her sister took the motherly role, took care of her, and protected her. Additionally, since her sister was older than her when her sister got married and her mother needed to travel for her singing career Owens often opted to stay with her sister.

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Hugh C. Burroughs describes his relationship with his siblings

Foundation executive Hugh C. Burroughs (1940 – 2023) worked for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, the Berry Gordy Family Foundation, and others during his philanthropic career. He also served as a member and chair of the Association of Black Foundation Executives.

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Burroughs begins his interview by mentioning that he does not make the distinction between half brothers or adopted siblings. To him, regardless of relationship, his siblings were his siblings, and he shares that they all have played an important role in his life. Burroughs speaks explicitly about his closeness with his 3 brothers and shares how, since their parents were divorced, Burroughs assisted with the parenting of his brothers by gathering them for meals. He concluded with how his brothers, then and now, seek him for council and look up to him because of the role that he played in parenting them.

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