About The Author
In the year 1975, my parents were married straight out of high school and began forming the McFadden family. Within the first year of their vows, my brother Rasheed was born and by September of 1979, along came my sisters Suminah and Elisha.
On November 22, 1980 at Interfaith hospital in Brooklyn, I, Justinah Muslima McFadden was born. What I find quite ironic about the day I was born is that, aside from it being the day of a huge hotel fire in California, it was an uneventful day. A day that was the stepping stone to the eventful life that I’ve lived ever since. From birth until the time I was seven years old, my family and I lived in Brownsville-one of the poorest areas of Brooklyn, NY. My upbringing was not the brightest nor most colorful, to say the least, but my parents did what they could to provide for me and my siblings.
With the struggles of a young parent home of four children, my parents separated, causing the family to split apart. At the age of 11, I spent the next 3 years with my grandmother, where I learned the importance of love, receiving love and how to give it in return.
Most people say they were born the day they greeted the earth. Not me… I feel that I was born at 23 years old. I was born spiritually, emotionally, and physically that day. November 22, 1980 may have been the day I was born, but November 21st of 2004, was the day I began to live. It was the day the earth made sense and my life changed for the better…FOREVER. With a troubled youth, hardships with my parents, and a history of pain and lack of trust in anything, I decided to turn my life around. I was 23 years of age when I began to believe in happiness again. At 23, I was born into a life of peace, understanding, trust and most importantly, LOVE. I found the love of Christ and at that moment found the love of life.
I’ve learned that life is what we all make of it. One cannot help the life they were born into. However, each day, God gives us all a chance to start all over. Everyday is a new beginning and a blessing given to us and what we choose to make of it is on us. I learned from maturity that it’s okay to make mistakes, ask for help, and forgive myself as well as others. It is perfectly fine to live, dream, and believe that I was truly put on this earth for a purpose. A purpose which I plan to fulfill each day.
As of today, I am a full time NYC Police Officer. I have been a Police Officer for 6 years. I wanted to become three things in life, a writer, Police Officer, and Attorney. I became a police officer because I wanted to make a difference and save the world.I feel that I can benefit the world because I see a part of myself in the eyes of every person I meet. I believe that everything I have gone through was just Gods ultimate plan to prepare me for my road to greatness. When I write about HOPE, it is not just because its something that sounds poetic or looks good on paper, but because I’ve lived through those moments that all I’ve had to hold on to was hope. From a strained childhood, homelessness and domestic violence came a woman of HOPE, Faith and Belief in God, which is what has gotten me through.
My plans for my future are to become an International writer – a NY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR. I also plan to attend law school, with a focus in civil rights. As of today, I am CEO of my own Domestic Violence Organization, COLLECTION OF HOPE, which is an organization that provides resources to victims through our Pyramid of Hope. These resources are needed to assist victims in safely fleeing their abuser and claiming their change. Most recently, I opened the doors to COLLECTION OF THOUGHTS, which is a publicist firm that allows an unknown author to make their dreams of publishing their work come true. I also plan to one day open a learning center for children and adults with Dyslexia, as this is something I overcame through writing, reading, and determination.
With faith and determination, I can and I will bring change in a world that needs so much change brought into it. For my children and yours.