Behind the Pages: Shannon Luders Manuel Reveals the Untold Inspirations Behind The One Who Loves You
SLM: I definitely would have felt more secure in my blackness had I been around my father more because he was my tie to it. If he had been a bigger presence in my life, I just would have been in his neighborhoods more. His absence left me with a void in terms of blackness and also in terms of not having a father figure, because our visits were so sporadic. He didn’t do the things I associated with father figures, like giving advice, or providing for me, or being someone I could count on for anything. But I do have fond memories that I’ll always cherish. It’s weird, I feel like in one sense I totally did have a father and in another sense I totally didn’t.