At 32 years old, Phidia’s husband (her first love and the father of her two children) divorced her to marry their adopted daughter. A deeply disturbing crime...and one without recourse in her native country of Kenya. Furthermore, in a society built to edify men and marginalize women, Phidia was no longer safe. Forced to flee, she was overjoyed to make it to America…but soon realized she had landed in a country afflicted by a different evil: Racism. As much as she did not want to engage in the politics of a foreign land, Phidia’s love for peace would not allow her to stand by in passivity. As a black woman, she felt troubled by the sight of black children walking with apprehension and loneliness because of the “sin” of their skin. She also noted the innocent white children, tormented by the sins of their fathers and others of different races. In every direction, a fierce battle of hate.
Overwhelmed but undaunted, Phidia determined to help her children understand their inherent value. This difficult work brought meaningful progress when the documented death of George Floyd hit the world. Her carefully built foundation of love was tested once more. She found herself at a loss: What magic could possibly unite such a divided nation and world? United By Privilege seeks to unify all races to work together to create a Shelter out of privilege. We live in a world of privileges we cannot eliminate—they are ingrained in the fabric of society—but we can maximize privilege to reap the benefits for all, as opposed to the few.
Walk with Phidia through an intimate account of life in Kenya, the disintegration of her marriage, and her relocation to the U.S. View the rise of racism in the States, the value of interracial relationships, and the role of racial activism through Phidia’s eyes. Gather perspective about how Privilege can work for the advancement of all. Most importantly, learn how you can contribute to the lasting change this world needs.