Monique shared this story with the Tenement Museum as part of the Russ + Daughters Story Series.
  Monique grew up surrounded by music and performance, and when Monique got her own record player, her mother passed on her copy of Tina Turner’s Private Dancer. "My mom was the biggest Tina fan," she said, and through Tina’s music, Monique and her mother found connection and inspiration. Monique’s mom immigrated from Jamaica to the Bronx—the first of her family to do so—and worked as a nurse, home health aide, eventually coming to own a business, all while saving money to bring her husband and kids to the States. Considering what her mom shared about her early years coming from Jamaica, Monique said “Many black women...they’re expected to just hold the world on their shoulders and not say anything. There are oodles of stories I would love to actually hear, that I don’t think I’ll ever get to hear.” 

Monique sees a lot of her own mother’s story in Tina’s story, as a black woman escaping a troubled relationship to find independence, and imagined her mom’s consideration of Tina’s rise: “Even if I didn’t get to do everything I wanted, at least I can see someone else who did, and if Tina Turner can do this, so can other black women.” Monique considers this message particularly important for women, black women, and immigrants. "You can be 'simply the best,' not him, and there’s no wrong or right time to reinvent your life.” 

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant