The Author:

Stayci Bell is a daughter, mother, grandmother, gardener, photographer, actress, puppeteer, healer, leader, and storyteller. Stayci defines herself as an EVERYTHINGist! Her work has been seen on Nicollet Mall, in church basements, and homeless shelters and Guthrie Theater as part of zAmya Theater. She recently premiered a shadow puppetry piece about her daughter's 1999 SIDS death at Pillsbury House Theater. She also contributed her writing to STREET/LIFE by Leah Nelson as part of Walker Art Center's Choreographers' Evening 2019. Stayci Bell is a grower of plants and people.

To eat to live is different for me than it is for you.

The abuse on this brown skin has been tried and true.

To eat to live is different for me than it is for you.

I've had to watch my daughter grow up from middle school to age 25 in these sex trafficked, abusive MN streets and there has been nothing that I can do.

To eat to live is different for me than it is for you.

My brown body exhibits the results of slavery...yes, they call that disparities and that is nothing new.

To eat to live is different for me than it is for you.

You see, I am trying to LIVE to EAT and remember how to chew and swallow, too.