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Who I Always Was
A Memoir
by Theresa Okokon
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Pub Date Feb 04 2025 | Archive Date Feb 18 2025
Description
For fans of Aftershocks and How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, a gripping and deeply honest memoir in essays, this debut collection sets out to answer the universal question of: Why am I like this?
When Theresa Okokon was nine, her father traveled to his hometown in Nigeria to attend his mother’s funeral…and never returned. His mysterious death shattered Theresa as her family’s world unraveled. Now a storyteller and television cohost, Okokon sets out to explore the ripple effects of that profound loss and the way heartache shapes our sense of self and of the world—for the rest of our lives.
Using her grief and her father’s death as a backdrop, Okokon delves deeply into intrinsic themes of Blackness, African spirituality, family, abandonment, belonging, and the seemingly endless, unrequited romantic pursuits of a Black woman who came of age as a Black girl in Wisconsin suburbs where she was—in many ways—always an anomaly.
When Theresa Okokon was nine, her father traveled to his hometown in Nigeria to attend his mother’s funeral…and never returned. His mysterious death shattered Theresa as her family’s world unraveled. Now a storyteller and television cohost, Okokon sets out to explore the ripple effects of that profound loss and the way heartache shapes our sense of self and of the world—for the rest of our lives.
Using her grief and her father’s death as a backdrop, Okokon delves deeply into intrinsic themes of Blackness, African spirituality, family, abandonment, belonging, and the seemingly endless, unrequited romantic pursuits of a Black woman who came of age as a Black girl in Wisconsin suburbs where she was—in many ways—always an anomaly.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781668008959 |
PRICE | $28.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 288 |
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Featured Reviews
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Who I Always Was by Theresa Okokon is a powerful and introspective memoir that takes readers on a journey through her experiences of identity, belonging, and self-discovery. I was deeply moved by Okokon’s candid storytelling and the way she explores her cultural heritage and personal challenges. Her reflections on the complexities of race and identity are both thought-provoking and relatable, making it a compelling read. This memoir resonates with anyone seeking to understand themselves better and appreciate the diverse tapestry of human experience.
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