Reflections

Born in the then British Guiana to parents who were both descendants of slaves and indentured servants, this biracial octogenarian reflects on her life as the country undergoes various political, social, and economic changes and how these changes impacted her life.Simultaneously, she tells of the love and support of her parents and family as she faces racism, spousal emotional and severe physical abuse, and of her own introspection and determination to rise above her challenges. In this regard, she hopes that similar victims of domestic violence would learn and benefit from her experiences.She tells of her work as a teacher in the beautiful Rupununi Savannahs and later in the entire seventy-three thousand square miles of Guyana's interior as a Hinterland social worker with specific focus on Guyana's indigenous peoples, of her ascension to high political office as Guyana's minister of Home Affairs, of her work as lecturer and head of the Social Work Unit of the University of Guyana, as a consultant to the Commonwealth Youth Program, and of her work-related travels.Her reflections are laced with quotes from her favorite music over the years, Guyanese anecdotes, and humor, some told in her local Guyanese dialect.Stella Odie-Ali tells her powerful life story in an engaging and own conversational style.