Part 3/16:
At age 13, Cyan’s life took a tumultuous turn involving homelessness, foster care, and complex family dynamics. Her mother struggled to keep the family together, leading to frequent removals of her siblings by the state. Cyan vividly recounts her sister’s unexpected removal, believing it was due to unfounded fears of harm to a new baby. She emphasizes how these experiences left her feeling like an outsider—an outsider culturally, racially, and emotionally—yet these very experiences fostered resilience and an acute awareness of prejudice and prejudice-driven behavior.