Adopted Woman Finally Uncovers The Truth About Her Birth Family

It's natural to explore your heritage, but what do you do when you don't like the story of your past? Sarah-Jayne King learned about her past the hard way, and it would take years to put the pieces together — so much of what she'd been told was a lie. Sarah-Jayne tried not to crumble under the pressure, as it was the only way to find out who she truly was.

Born Different

Growing up as one of the few Black people in a white, middle-class town in Surrey, England, Sarah-Jayne struggled to feel at home. The otherness she naturally felt was made worse by how people around her treated her, never letting her forget she was different.

On The Surface

For as long as she could remember, Sarah-Jayne knew she didn't belong. Her adoptive parents were upfront about the fact that she was adopted in 1980. Though that was fairly obvious given she was a black girl raised by two white parents.

Being Black

Some would stare from afar and judge, while others would invade her privacy, touching her hair without her permission. All these daily attacks led the young girl to the unfortunate philosophy that being Black was a bad thing to be. She withdrew and began to fantasize about the life she could have had.

Not Enough

Sarah-Jayne's parents, Malcolm and Angela, meant to create a great life for her and her adoptive brother, who was also black. Without any experience or help from someone who understood, they couldn't help either of their children with the problems they faced. They couldn't protect them from harm.