Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir by Ashley C. Ford
Biography of the Author:
Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ashley C. Ford was primarily raised by her single mother while her father had been incarcerated and faced a sentence of 30 years. Ford lived through a particularly rough childhood, one that a lot of underprivileged and underrepresented black children in America are forced to deal with. Because she was forced to carry such a large burden of responsibility from such a young age, Ashley grew up to be the writer she is today. A woman who advocates for individuals whose voice might become muddled due to the circumstances they’ve been faced with.
Though it could be said that Ford’s ability to tell a story is enough to have her taught in YA literature, it’s truly her experiences as a human being that make her a stand out and must have in the classroom. Through her memoir Somebody’s Daughter, Ashley captivates readers with her experiences in life as a child, as a teenager, and as a woman. She lays herself bare, talking about her assault and her negligent role models, she discusses how it feels to be a child but being forced to grow up far too quickly to assume a responsibility not meant for oneself. It's these events that Ford has gone through, events that so many at risk youths go through on a daily basis, that push this book to be impactful.
https://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Ashley+C.+Ford
Ford is allotting representation within her novel, showing so many children and teens that their story matters and that they are worthy of feeling seen. That it is okay for parents to go through tough times but that it is not a child’s responsibility to take on the parenting role for themselves. That they aren't alone when they question things about themselves or the society they live in. In a podcast that Ford did for the ACLU she says, “I wrote it for me… I wrote it like a child version of me was a kid who lived across the street and asked me to write them a book...And would you please write this down for me so that people care about it? And that’s what I did my best to do, because that part of me, that little girl, that neighbor girl across the street was terrified that her story didn’t matter, that she didn’t matter, even though she truly, in her heart and in her gut believed that she did” (00:08:34).
Ford sprouted under unfavorable conditions, she grew up too fast, and felt pain at the hands of those who were supposed to care for her. She felt pain that so many young girls and boys feel in today's day and age, and now she has the platform to share not only her story but the story of so many other children. She can prove to them, through her own words and experiences, that not only do they matter but that they too can rise up and exceed the expectations set before them.
In a heartwarming and inspirational memoir, Ashley C. Ford’s Somebody’s Daughter portrays the story of a young girl growing up. The coming-of-age story presents themes that many readers will recognize and understand, such as being a child full of wonder and innocence. But at its core, Somebody’s Daughter is a story about the vulnerability and complexity of being a black woman with an incarcerated father and abusive mother. Ford's memoir explores themes of identity, exploring sexuality, and self-discovery. It delves into her experiences as a biracial woman, her struggles with body image, and her journey toward understanding herself as individual. These topics are relevant to young adults and can prompt self-discovery and critical thinking about their own identities and the society they live in. The book is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different aspect of Ford's life.
In the first part, Ford recalls her childhood, the good and the bad. The memorable moments with her siblings, such as singing Whitney Huston in the back seat or family movie nights. The comfort of childhood and innocence. However, Ford’s past is also tinted by sexual assault and the inability to distinguish between what’s good and bad.
The second part of the book delves deeper into Ford's relationship with her father. Ford’s father's incarceration highly impacted her life as finds herself longing for a strong parental figure that would do anything for her. Someone who could save her and make her feel safe. As an adult, Ford visits her father in prison and reflects on the impacts of the criminal justice system on families like hers. She is conflicted by why her father is in prison and what it means to her as rape victim.
In the final part of the book, Ford shares her experiences as a young adult. She talks about balancing school, her relationships, and her own personal growth. Like many young adults, Ford is confused on what she wants to do with her life and what she enjoys. She offers insights into the challenges and triumphs of her journey, highlighting the importance of resilience, self-love, family, and self-growth.
Overall, Somebody's Daughter is a raw and honest memoir that tackles difficult issues, such as sexual assault. Ford's writing is vivid as she retells her experiences and her storytelling is both compelling and inspiring. This book is a must-read for young adults as it portrays the complexities of identity, self-discovery, and growing up. As well as the difficulties of being a young adult, who is a minority.
Links to relevant open-source Online Materials to aid in student understanding of the text:
medium.com - My Therapist Says Feelings Aren't Facts - Ashley C. Ford
Ashley C. Ford's medium.com article, "My Therapist Says Feelings Aren't Facts," dives into the concept of embracing our feelings without letting them define us. Ford shares her own story of struggling to accept her emotions without letting them dictate her life, and how her therapist helped her to understand the difference between feelings and facts. Ford explains that it's important to acknowledge our feelings, but ultimately they are not the reality, as they are often influenced by our thoughts and beliefs. She encourages readers to observe their feelings, rather than judge them, and remember to separate feelings from facts in order to live a more balanced life.
npr.org - How to Set Boundaries With Family - Julia Furlan, Clare Marie Schneider
Julia Furlan and Clare Marie Schneider's 21 minute audio and article on NPR.com titled, "How to Set Boundaries with Family - and Stick to Them," offers advice on how to establish healthy boundaries in relationships with family members. They emphasize the importance of setting boundaries that are both clear and respectful. It is important to understand the difference between boundaries and ultimatums, and to think of boundaries as a means of self-protection. They suggest setting boundaries in a way that's firm but respectful, and to give yourself permission to say no when necessary. They also recommend using positive language, and to be prepared for pushback from family members. Finally, it's important to forgive yourself and your family when boundaries are crossed. With clear communication, boundaries can help maintain healthy relationships with family members.
YouTube.com - What it Means to Take a Risk - Ashley Ford
Ashley Ford's YouTube video, "What it Means to Take a Risk," discusses the importance of taking risks in life. Ford speaks on the importance of taking chances and pursuing goals, even if it is scary. She explains that fear of failure is natural, but that it should not be a deterrent from achieving one's dreams. Ford also encourages viewers to have a plan, but also to be open to changes that come along the way. She affirms that it is important to take risks, even if the outcome is not known. She shares her personal story of taking a risk and leaving her job to start a business, and how it led to her success. Ford's message is that taking risks can be scary, but it's worth it in the end.
YouTube.com - TEDx Talks - What Trauma Taught Me About Resilience - Charles Hunt
In this TEDx Talk, Charles Hunt shares his journey of resilience after facing trauma in his life. He explains how resilience is not something you are born with, but something you build by facing and overcoming adversity. Through his story, Hunt demonstrates how the transformative power of resilience can be nurtured and cultivated, and how this process can lead to a more meaningful life. He reminds us how resilience is essential to living life to its fullest, and how it can be found in the most unlikely of places. Hunt ends by encouraging us to find the courage to face our own trauma and build resilience, no matter how difficult it may seem.
In her appearance on The Daily Show, author Ashley C. Ford talks about her powerful and moving memoir, Somebody’s Daughter, which chronicles her journey to forgiving her father. Ashley recounts how she had a difficult childhood due to her father's struggles with addiction and mental illness, but eventually realized that she needed to forgive him in order to move on with her own life. She talks about how it was difficult for her to reconcile her past with her father's difficult behavior, but ultimately she was able to find peace in forgiving him. Ashley C. Ford's story is an inspiring one of overcoming adversity and finding forgiveness.
Sexual Assault Remains Dramatically Underreported article by Cameron Kimble
In this article, Kimble explains that “nearly 80 percent of rapes and sexual assaults go unreported”, a fact which contextualizes Ashley Ford’s decision not to tell anyone about her own rape. Kimble goes over the reasons victims cite for not reporting their rapists, one of which is fear of societal retaliation, which is essentially the reason Ford does not tell her mother that she has been assaulted. Providing students with this article after they have read chapter 15 will hopefully help them empathize with Ford’s decision to remain silent.
NPR interview with Ashley Ford
This interview gives Ford a chance to delve deeper into several topics that are brought up in the book, such as: starting puberty at a young age, her own rape and consequently her decision not to report it, and her coming to terms with her father’s crime. As far as Ford’s decision not to report her own sexual assault, she provides further explanation in that she was afraid her mother would genuinely murder Brett if she found out, thus leaving her with two parents in prison. Hearing Ford’s voice, and getting extra information about her experiences will help students to relate to her and further understand her story.
What Emotional Abuse Really Means
Throughout the book, Ashley experiences both physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother. While it is evident that the physical abuse Ashley endures is bad, emotional abuse is often considered insignificant in comparison, in spite of its equally damaging effects. This article breaks down the signifiers of abuse, allowing readers to identify less obvious forms of abuse within the novel and within their own lives. Many individuals will experience emotional abuse within their lifetime, and so it is important to give teens the ability to recognize abuse as it occurs.
I’m queer no matter who I’m with article by Ashley Ford
This article would be a useful read after students have read chapter 24, where Ford briefly mentions her queerness in saying, “We’d both talked about the fact that we were attracted to people who shared our respective representations of gender,” to provide additional context (Ford, 150). In this article, Ford opens up about her identity as a queer person, and makes it clear that her long term relationship with her boyfriend Kelly does not negate this identity. By providing students with this article, teachers can bring students attention to issues of queerness, in particular, bi-visibility.
Writer Ashley Ford on the childhood letters that afforded her self esteem
This brief PBS interview allows students to see Ford speak on the relationship between her self-esteem and the letters she received from her incarcerated father. The video also provides childhood photos of Ford and her siblings, which will help students who benefit more from visual aids. Additionally, in this interview, Ford opens up a little bit about how her relationship with her father is evolving outside the scope of her novel, with him outside of prison.
RJ:
- Personal Memoir Activity
- Goal
- To not only help the students practice narrative style writing with experimentation with dialogue and storytelling, but to also give students a chance to express themselves as individuals. Students already write so many argumentative essays that must follow a very strict structure, so I thought it could be good to have a chance to move away from that by experimenting with the form of narrative. Reading a story like Somebody's Daughter that covers so many issues and themes that are relevant to our adolescent students will likely inspire many of them to reflect on their own lived experience. This activity would be the perfect opportunity for that.
- Instructions
- Each one of us has a story that is deserving of being told. Like our author Ashley C. Ford, you will be writing a memoir about a moment in your life when you've conquered adversity. Adversity (difficulties or misfortune) can come in many forms, so there are plenty of options for you to write about. (Examples: overcoming performance anxiety in a show, conquering your fear of heights, participating in a marathon for the first time, coming back to your sport after an injury, dealing with the emotions of moving away from your friends, etc.)
- Must have at least 2 different instances of dialogue being used in the Memoir. This is supposed to build skills in writing conversations between two or more characters in a story.
- Must be 600-1,000 words in length. May go over 1,000 words if needed.
- Will have a Rough Draft that will be work-shopped in class for the week to get feedback from others. Can bring story in during tutorial to have teacher leave some feedback.
- Common Core Outcomes
- Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
- Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
- Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
- Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
