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WHITE SINGLE MOTHER DESCRIBES WHAT IT'S LIKE RAISING TWO BLACK CHILDREN ALONE October 6th, 2022 By, DeQuinder Williams II Young, 21 years old and pregnant. On June 9th, 2006 Summer Blevins gave birth to her son DeQuinder Williams. Four years later, on October 4th, 2010 she gave birth to her daughter Summiya Williams. She is still raising them today, and both of her children are healthy, very active and fully engaged in school. DeQuinder Williams: Thank you for having me today Ms.Blevins. Can I ask you a couple of questions? Summer Blevins: No problem, take a seat Mr.Williams. DeQuinder Williams: For my first question, what was the hardest part about being a single mother? Summer Blevins: The hardest part about being a single mother- Time and finances. Sometimes I had to work two jobs just to make ends meet. I missed a lot of years away from them [my kids] (sports, school functions, bedtime.) Even with multiple jobs, still not having enough money to do the fun stuff, but somehow, I always made it work. DeQuinder Williams: I'm sure that was hard on your mental health and maybe even physically. Your children are beautiful by the way. I have also been wondering about your son’s name. May I ask where the name “DeQuinder” came from? Summer Blevins: He was named after his biological father. It was unique, and at the time I wanted to do something to honor his dad and to make it more unique. Instead of Jr. we used “the second” as his suffix. DeQuinder Williams: Such a fascinating name for a great young man like your son. Summer Blevins: Thank you so much. DeQuinder Williams: Now, in public, do you ever get stared at being a caucasion women with biracial black children? Summer Blevins: Yes. From the day they were born, I remember going to the store to get formula and diapers, and people would break their necks to look in the car seat . I became very aware of people’s bigotry and detestation for interracial relationships and the children from those relationships. I felt like I was always on guard because the last thing I wanted was for someone to say something about my kids, and make them feel less of a person just because of the color of their skin. DeQuinder Williams: I’m sorry you had to go through that, you are a very strong woman, and are very protective of your children. Summer Blevins: Yes I am and I always will. (Summer smiles.) DeQuinder Willams: Is their dad in their life at the moment? Summer Blevins: Yes and no, he’s not an active part of their everyday lives but they do see him at least once a week. DeQuinder Williams: That is a good thing for the kids to at least see their father once throughout the week rather than none at all. Summer Blevins: Yes it is, we are all very proud of him. DeQuinder Williams: On to the second to last of my questions, what are Summiya and DeQuinder’s plans for the future? Summer Blevins: Q’s dream is to get into college to play football, and then his biggest goal is to go to the NFL . Summiya’s ambition is to become a doctor. DeQuinder Williams: Those are very solid career paths they are aiming to pursue. DeQuinder Williams: For my final question, just how much do your two children mean to you Ms.Blevins? Summer Blevins: Since their dad left in 2012, Q and Summiya have been the center of my entire world. They’ve both saved me on more than one occasion. I wouldn’t be here or be the woman I am without them! Everything I’ve done has been for them. From working sixty hours a week and going to school full-time, to earning my bachelors degree. They have made me the happiest mom in the world. They have grown into amazing young adults and even on days when I feel like I’ve failed them, they always end up showing me that that is not true! They are smart, funny, athletic, healthy, determined, ambitious, and all around great human beings! They are my life! DeQuinder Williams: That’s deep and it’s a beautiful thing to listen to a single white mother care for her biracial children so much, and is still raising them to this day. DeQuinder Williams: Ms.Blevins thank you for having me. Summer Blevins: No problem, anytime. |
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