The Moth Podcast: "June Cross: Secret Daughter"

Episode Release Date: July 9, 2012
Host: The Moth
Storyteller: June Cross
Theme: Balancing Acts
Transcript Timestamp: [02:16] – [14:39]

Introduction

In this poignant and deeply personal episode of The Moth, June Cross shares her memoir, "Secret Daughter," recounting her experiences growing up as a biracial child in the 1950s and 1960s America. Her story delves into themes of identity, family secrets, and the societal pressures of race during a turbulent era.

Early Life and Family Dynamics

June begins by revealing the central secret of her family: her biracial identity. Born to a white mother and a black father at a time when the concept of being "biracial" was nonexistent, June's existence was a closely guarded secret.

• Her Mother's Background:
  "My mother was a farm girl from Pocatello, Idaho who'd come to New York to seek her fame and fortune."

• Her Father's Background:
  "He was a performer from Philadelphia. He was part of a duo called Stump and Stumpy, which had been popular in the 40s."

As her father's career declined due to increasing alcoholism and anger, her mother made the difficult decision to leave him, moving June to Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Living Two Lives

June's childhood was marked by the stark contrast between her two households. With her mother in New York City, she experienced a life of relative freedom and exposure to the arts. Conversely, her time in Atlantic City with Aunt Peggy and Uncle Paul provided a structured and disciplined environment.

• In New York with Her Mother:
  "We would leave the Port Authority, go out, head out to the rotisserie chicken place across the street from Port Authority, pick up a chicken, go home, eat dinner at 11:30 at night, stay up and watch whatever was on television as long as I wanted until I fell asleep."

• In Atlantic City with Aunt Peggy and Uncle Paul:
  "Aunt Peggy was a very strict disciplinarian. She thought that my mother had been way too lenient with me, which mom had been. There was no structure in Mom's house."

June describes this duality as "crossing a razor blade," carefully balancing her life between these two worlds.

Confronting Racism and Identity Crisis

As June grew older, the racial tensions of the 1960s intensified her internal struggle with her identity. Influenced by the Black Panther Party and significant cultural shifts, she became determined to embrace her black heritage fully.

• Facing Societal Pressures:
  "Aunt Peggy pulled me aside and said, 'You need to make sure that you never tell anybody that your mom is married to Larry Storch. If it's found out that he's married to a woman that had a black child, his entire career could go south.'"

• Rejecting Multiracial Identity:
  "There was a group on campus of multiracial students. I refused to join them because I didn't want to have anything to do with being multiracial."

June's commitment to identifying as black was both a personal and political statement during a time of significant racial upheaval.

A Pivotal Moment in Las Vegas

A turning point in June's journey of self-discovery occurred during her mother's 50th birthday party in Las Vegas. This event juxtaposed her rigid ideals with unexpected moments of connection.

• Meeting Muhammad Ali:
  "Larry looks around and all of a sudden he sees the heavyweight champion of the world, Muhammad Ali, sitting a few tables away. ... I felt like a 6 year old. My hand just disappeared inside of his."

• Reflection Through Music:
  "Johnny Cash begins to play. ... I felt like he was describing my entire life. ... maybe I could balance myself on that razor and walk the line and have the people that I loved and the things that I like be on both sides in me and not have to choose."

This encounter with Ali and the music of Johnny Cash inspired June to reconcile her dual heritage, recognizing that she didn't have to choose between her black and white identities.

Conclusion: Embracing a Unified Identity

June Cross concludes her story with a profound realization that embracing both sides of her heritage can coexist within her, allowing her to navigate her complex identity without choosing one over the other. This epiphany was pivotal in shaping her understanding of self and her place in a divided society.

• Final Insight:
  "The lesson was that maybe I could balance myself on that razor and walk the line and have the people that I loved and the things that I like be on both sides in me and not have to choose."

About June Cross

June Cross is a professor at Columbia Journalism School, a documentary filmmaker, and the author of the memoir Secret Daughter: A Mother, a Son, and the Story That Tied Us Together. Her work explores themes of race, identity, and family.

For more information, visit secretdaughter.com.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• June Cross on Family Secrets ([02:16]):
  "Every family has secrets. In my family, the secret was me. I was secret because I was black."

• June Cross on Living Two Lives ([08:45]):
  "It was almost like I used to liken it to crossing a razor blade. And if I crossed it carefully, it would scrape instead of cut."

• June Cross Reflecting on Identity ([13:30]):
  "Maybe I could balance myself on that razor and walk the line and have the people that I loved and the things that I like be on both sides in me and not have to choose."

This episode of The Moth offers a compelling exploration of racial identity and the personal struggles that accompany living between two worlds. June Cross's heartfelt narrative provides listeners with a profound understanding of the complexities faced by biracial individuals in mid-20th century America.