“Nobody came to my graduation but Patsy and her friend Cathy. Pauline didn’t come. Thomas did not come. No other relatives came. Patsy took me to eat and that was it. Afterward, I heard Thomas saying, “when is she gonna get out of here? How much longer is she going to be here?” Patsy didn’t say anything to me, but I think she knew I heard him. He wanted me to hear him. I understand that she may have been between a rock and a hard place, but if I’m supposed to be your child, you know…”. The Art of Resiliency – Andrea Charlton – Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: As We Mature