02/06/2023
Diversity, equity, and inclusion expert Harkema dedicates this memoir “to anyone who has been overlooked, marginalized, and underrepresented.” That sets the inviting tone for this inspiring life story. As an adoptee from Congo in a white American family, Harkema, though loved and cared for, had to work to find a place and be true to her identity. Now she draws on her lived experience as a globe-traveling DEI consultant, committed to ensuring open, safe, and inviting work environments. Featuring welcome insights on themes of race, diversity, inclusion and acceptance, Rising is an engaging, relatable book for readers from all walks of life.
Harkema takes readers on a remarkable story of self-discovery and self-acceptance, of the challenges of “learning to wear the mask” to the deep joy of feeling confident in presenting her true self. Chronicling her life from her birth in the Democratic Republic of Congo to a teenaged mother in a mud hut to attending college, exploring her sexuality, and eventually securing her dream job, Harkema's story is one of beating the odds while finding success—and one’s' self. Filled with on-point quotes from thinkers like Maya Angelou and personable, honest anecdotes, this well-rounded memoir shares Harkema’s story with an openness and vigor that will have readers rooting for her.
The story comes full circle when Harkema journeys back to Africa to meet her birth mother. She writes, touchingly, "For the first time in my life, the anxiety of trying to fit in, not looking like anyone else in the room, hoping to be liked, or seeking others’ approval wasn’t even a thought that came into my mind.” Those words, and this story, illuminate not just Harkema’s journey but the urgency for workplace inclusion. At times heart-wrenching and heart-warming, Rising is an inspiring, touching read for anyone just trying to make a way for themselves in the world.
Takeaway: An inspiring memoir of self-discovery, identity, and embracing your own path.
Great for fans of: George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren't Blue, Janet Mock’s Redefining Realness.
Production grades Cover: A Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A Marketing copy: A
An inspiring memoir of self-discovery, identity, and embracing your own path.” —BookLife (Publishers Weekly)
“A solid remembrance that offers the engaging perspective of a diversity and inclusion expert.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Rising equips its audience with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement changes and work toward inclusive workplaces.” —Foreword Reviews
“A riveting and heart-wrenching memoir. Graci Harkema brilliantly and generously shows us how to unapologetically and fiercely be our true selves” —Rhonda M. Roorda, award-winning author, In Their Voices; consultant to the NBC television series This Is Us
“Graci Harkema truly embodies what it means not only to awaken but to ‘rise.’ In this incredible book, she utilizes all the deep wisdom culled from her journey to true authenticity to spread her urgent message of inclusion.” —Jennifer Brown, founder/CEO, Jennifer Brown Consulting; bestselling author, Inclusion, Beyond Diversity, and How to Be an Inclusive Leader
“Graci Harkema provides deep insights into her miraculous life. This book serves as a reminder that liberation can come from living in our truths.” —Janice Gassam Asare, PhD, writer and DEI consultant
“Part memoir, part self-help, and part DEI training, Rising holds up a mirror and asks us to see our own truth as Graci Harkema reveals hers.” —Stef Ziev, author, The Choice Is Yours
“An incredible journey. Truly a story of love, success, and perseverance.” —Doug Meijer, co-chairman, Meijer
“Rising requires more than one read. The first time, you’ll read with your mouth open. The second time, you’ll open your mind.” —Chris Brogan, New York Times–bestselling author, The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth