Patricia Beede of Rhode Island, an adoptive white mother of a 13-year-old daughter, Nicole, who is African American:
âI was driving Nicole and some of her friends around. We passed by a group home, and Nicoleâs best friend said, in kind of a mocking way, âThatâs where those group home girls live.â Nicole spoke up and said, âThereâs no such thing as âgroup home girls.ââ She then explained that those who live in group homes arenât responsible for their situations and that living in a group home doesnât define them. âI was proud of Nicole. I once bought her a button that says, âSpeak up, even if your voice shakes.â She put that button on, and I can honestly say that I believe thatâs how she tries to live her life. She gets it, I think.
