Daliah Husu’s memoir, I Am Woman: Surviving the Past, the Present, and the Future, is a raw, emotionally charged exploration of identity, resilience, and the quest for self-actualization. In this compelling work, Husu recounts her life with an honesty and authority that demands attention, inviting readers into the intimate spaces of her journey as a trans woman.
From her early childhood in the dangerous slums of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, she narrates the stark realities of growing up without a father and with a mother who was often absent, leaving her in the care of her grandmother. These formative years were shaped by fear, poverty, and uncertainty, yet they also laid the groundwork for a determination to survive and thrive against all odds.
Husu’s story is not just a personal chronicle but a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, demonstrating how hope and dreams can illuminate even the darkest moments of life. Her memoir continues into her adolescence and young adulthood, where the narrative becomes a vivid portrayal of the complexities of gender identity, desire, and survival. Husu shares her experience of navigating a world that often judged and marginalized her, including her struggles with alcohol and drug use, her time in sex work, and her intense longing for love and acceptance. These experiences, though painful, are presented with remarkable clarity and honesty, allowing readers to understand both the struggles and triumphs of a trans woman finding her place in society.
