“Do you remember the black couple who had a white child? This is her now. ‘You clumsy adopted child! Look at the mess you’ve made. You’re so careless, just like all of them. Picked up from who knows where and dumped on some ignorant family, no wonder you’re so thoughtless!’ the woman screamed. Her voice was like a knife cutting through the air as she yelled at Imachi.
Poor Imachi’s eyes widened in shock, her face burned with shame. She had been so happy just moments before, chatting with her dad as they walked down the grocery aisle, but now she felt like crawling under a rock and hiding.
‘Excuse me, that’s enough,’ Nami’s father, Ben, growled, but the woman didn’t stop. She kept yelling.
Imachi had been telling her dad about her school adventures, gesticulating wildly as she spoke. She hadn’t noticed the woman standing in front of her, examining a shelf of canned goods. Then disaster struck. Imachi collided with the woman’s shopping cart, sending its contents tumbling to the floor. The woman’s phone slipped from her grasp, landing screen-side down on the hard tile. Several items she had been holding—a loaf of bread, a jar of pasta sauce, and a packet of coffee—also fell to the ground, rolling in different directions.
Ben quickly apologized and rushed to assist, helping the woman gather her scattered belongings. Imachi, realizing her mistake, looked mortified. Her smile faltered for a moment before she, too, began to help pick up the items.
‘I’m so sorry, ma’am,’ she said with a small voice. ‘I wasn’t looking.’
But the woman wasn’t having it. She kept yelling. Ben tried to intervene, but she wouldn’t stop. Finally, he’d had enough.
‘That’s enough,’ he repeated. ‘We’ve apologized, and we’re helping you clean up the mess. There’s no need for insults.’
Ben told the woman that her comment was cruel. Imachi was his biological daughter, and she was being very mean by saying those things to a little girl. But the woman only scoffed.
‘Oh, please, you expect me to believe that? She’s as white as snow and you’re… well, you’re you. You could have done so much better adopting a black girl who actually shares your heritage.’
Ben was too shocked to even say another word. He felt his dignity slipping away, his sense of identity shattered.
Imachi was struck by the woman’s words. She felt totally embarrassed. A tear fell from her eyes, and she quickly tried to wipe it away, but her father had already seen her. That wasn’t the first time she had heard such comments, but it hurt her each time she heard it.
When the woman saw that Ben wouldn’t exchange words with her, she rolled her eyes at the duo and left.
It took three agonizing minutes before Ben recovered from the shock. He quickly pulled his daughter into his arms and told her not to let the woman’s words get to her. He could see that his words didn’t have much effect on Imachi. She still hung her head and tried as much as possible not to cry.
They finished the rest of their shopping in silence. Imachi, who had been chattering away when they walked in, was now completely quiet. Ben drove them home while she still didn’t say a word. He sighed and wondered when people would learn how to talk to others.
This wasn’t the first time his daughter had gotten humiliated simply because she was white and had a different skin tone from the rest of the family.
Ben and his wife, Angela Ehgo, were a young Nigerian couple who left their home country in search of a better life. They had fallen in love in Nigeria and gotten married surrounded by friends and family, but they knew their country was facing many challenges, and they wanted to give their future children a brighter future. London, with its vibrant culture and opportunities, had always fascinated them. They dreamed of raising their family in this beautiful city where they could provide a comfortable and secure life for their children.
Ben and Angela were determined to work hard and make a new life in London, away from the struggles they faced in Nigeria. With big dreams and a strong love for each other, they took the bold step of moving to London. They were excited to start fresh, to learn new things, and to build a happy life together. Ben and Angela were each other’s rock, supporting and encouraging each other through the ups and downs of their journey.
When Ben and Angela first arrived in London, they faced many challenges. It wasn’t easy for them to adjust to their new life. Ben struggled to find a good job, despite having a good education and credentials. He was offered jobs that didn’t match his skills, like being a cleaner, waiter, or security guard. But Ben didn’t give up. He kept looking for a better opportunity, believing that his hard work and determination would pay off.
Finally, after many months of searching, Ben found a job as a teacher at a local school. The pay wasn’t great, but it was a start. He was relieved to have a steady income and was proud to be working in a profession he loved.
Meanwhile, Angela decided to further her education. She studied hard and passed her scholarship exams, earning a spot at a good college. She worked tirelessly to complete her degree in nursing, and after a few years, she graduated. Angela was thrilled to land a job at a hospital where she could help people and make a difference in her community.
Ben and Angela’s hard work and perseverance were paying off. They were building a comfortable life in London, and their love for each other kept them strong through the tough times. They were proud of what they had achieved and were excited for the future.
Ben and Angela finally felt at home in London. They had worked hard to build a comfortable life, and now they could enjoy the fruits of their labor. They had agreed to wait until they were financially stable before starting a family, and now that they both had good jobs, they felt ready. They were excited to become parents and create a loving home for their children.
Angela became pregnant with their first child, and after nine months, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. He brought immense joy to their lives. Four years later, Angela gave birth to another baby boy. They were overjoyed to have two lovely sons, and their home was filled with laughter and love.
Ben and Angela were devoted parents, teaching their children important values like kindness, respect, and hard work. Their boys were surrounded by loving parents who cared for them deeply. Ben and Angela made sure to spend quality time with their children, playing with them, reading to them, and taking them on fun outings. They were a happy family, and their love for each other grew stronger every day.
Ben was over the moon when Angela shared the news of her third pregnancy. He couldn’t wait to meet their new addition and was excited to think that it might be a girl this time. To celebrate, Ben planned a special day out for the whole family. They set out to explore more of London, visiting places they had never been to before. The day was filled with laughter and wonder as they took in the sights and sounds of the city.
One afternoon, Angela was sitting comfortably on the couch at home when suddenly, her water broke. She felt a gush of fluid and knew instantly that it was time to give birth to their new baby. She quickly grabbed her phone and dialed Ben’s number, trying to remain calm despite the surprise and excitement.
Ben was in a meeting at work when his phone rang. He rushed out of the meeting room, told his colleagues he had to go, and sprinted to the car to pick up his wife. When he arrived home, he helped Angela gather her things and supported her as they walked to the car.
During the drive to the hospital, Ben was fidgety and nervous, glancing at Angela every few seconds to make sure she was okay. But Angela was calm and reassuring, smiling at him and holding his hand to calm his nerves.
The nurses at the hospital immediately sprang into action and took Angela in. Ben stood outside for an hour, pacing anxiously. His hands shook, and he was restless. It wasn’t the first time Angela was giving birth, but he felt this way every single time.
Finally, he heard the cry of a baby from the room and let out a huge breath of relief. He folded his hands, looked up, and said a short prayer of thanks. A nurse came out a few minutes later to give him the good news with a smile.
‘Congratulations, sir! It’s a girl,’ she exclaimed.
Ben beamed with joy and stepped into the room, eager to see mother and child. When he stood next to Angela, who was cradling her newborn baby girl, the couple looked at each other in confusion. The baby was white. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. They were shocked—the two of them were black, so how did their child turn out to be white?
Ben didn’t doubt his wife’s faithfulness. He trusted her completely and knew she wouldn’t betray him. Angela was happy and relieved to see that her husband trusted her. The couple exchanged questions they couldn’t answer.
The baby’s skin color left everyone, including the doctors, confused. The doctors carried out tests on the baby girl to determine her condition. They ruled out the possibility of albinism, as the child didn’t have the features of an albino.
The genetic experts proposed three theories to explain the child’s unusual skin color. She could be the result of a one-of-a-kind gene mutation unique to her genetic makeup. If this were the case, she would likely pass this gene to her children, who would also be born with white skin. Alternatively
, she may be the product of long-dormant white genes passed down to her by her parents. These genes could have been carried by their ancestors for generations without surfacing until now, making her the first to express this trait. Another possibility was that the child had a mutated version of a genetic condition, which could cause her skin to darken over time as she developed.
Angela referred to her baby girl as a ‘miracle baby.’ Regardless of how she looked, the couple loved their daughter very much. They named her Imachi, which means ‘beauty of God’ in their native language.
The couple quickly grew very protective of her. They knew some people wouldn’t understand the reality of their family, and they were right. Neighbors and strangers threw stares and whispered among themselves whenever the family went out together. Ben once overheard someone say that his wife had probably been unfaith
