La Rhonda Petitt-Brown

Recently, just as all of you did, I learned about another new sibling. Her name is LaRhonda and we also share the same parentage, as in James Brown; he fathered us both. She lives in Houston and I wrote her and I expect she'll be surprised to hear from me. I am really clinging to everything positive and really embracing the idea that I am blessed, and on that note, I really expect to hear from her.

La Rhonda, I just wanted to let you know that I really identify with you. So far, members of my father's family have been reluctant to correspond with me directly. I have had to contact them through the attorneys and this really makes me sad. I finally sent them heartfelt letters imploring them to embrace me as their brother and a true member of the family. But so far, my pleas have gone unheard and that just breaks my heart.

I watched our father embrace and laugh with complete strangers but refused to acknowledge his own flesh and blood; I am truly perplexed as to why my brothers and sisters are continuing to perpetuate this so-called "tradition". We are all God's children and beyond that we share a genetic/biological bond and I am grateful for that. I am sorry that the legal issues appear to separate us. I hope that I have made it clear that my motives are pure and I want to connect with all of you and expand my family. I love that sense of family I have with my mother's side of the family and I want to know my father, too. But now the only way I can do that is through the relationships that I build with those of you that knew him best.

So to La Rhonda, and the rest of the Brown family I look forward to hearing from you. Like I said, I'll stay positive and beseech God that all of you see your way clear to truly embrace me.

Drafted September 4, 2007