Crushing Soft Rubies: A Memoir, 10th Anniversary Edition - Paperback

by Janet C. Stickmon (Author)

Crushing Soft Rubies is the place where spirit, culture, and survival meet. It is the story of a Filipino-African-American who is caught between the death of her parents and the desperate need to define herself--not as an orphan, but as a strong woman who is willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure that her past does not become a barrier to her future. Janet, now a teacher and a married woman, leads us through the intense details of her story. From her childhood home being burned to the ground, to the joys and conflicts with her Filipino family, to seeking a connection to her African-American heritage, and then to the beautiful moment of her marriage, Janet navigates the rough waters of love, spirit, identity, and survival, maintaining a life filled with faith and wonder.

Author Biography

Prof. Janet C. Mendoza Stickmon, author of Crushing Soft Rubies and Midnight Peaches, Two O'clock Patience, is a teacher, writer, and performer. Stickmon has taught ethnic studies, social justice, history of Christianity, spoken word and algebra at Salesian High School in Richmond, CA for several years. She is currently a professor of Humanities at Napa Valley College, teaching Filipina(o)-American Heritage, American Mind I and II, and Intro to Africana Studies. Prof. Stickmon is the founder and facilitator of Broken Shackle Developmental Training-a program that promotes the use of healing techniques to help reduce the effects of internalized racism. She is also a spoken word artist who has performed at several venues across the country. Through her literature and performances, she explores issues of love, motherhood, resilience, ancestral connection, and joy. Her books have been used in courses at several colleges and universities across the country. Stickmon holds a Master's of the Arts Degree in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University, a Master's of the Arts Degree in Religion and Society from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, and a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Irvine. Her work has influenced thousands of adults and adolescents for nearly twenty years.