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MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
It is Friday, and that means it is time for StoryCorps. This week, a conversation from the Brightness in Black project sharing stories of Black love, joy and triumphs. Sixteen-year-old Tamar Anderson Henry has autism. She came to StoryCorps with her mother, Soleil Henry, to talk about the importance of knowing and being yourself.
SOLEIL HENRY: I'll never forget the first time you tried violin. They called me back in that room within 20 minutes, and you were playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."
TAMAR ANDERSON HENRY: (Laughter) Well, music helped me be myself because it is my natural talent.
S HENRY: Yes, you have talent. You have an amazing gift. You have gifts, and those gifts, they're a part of you, but they don't make you. Does that make sense?
T HENRY: Yes.
S HENRY: (Laughter) I've always kept you sheltered because, yeah, you're high functioning, but just hearing that word autism, it was scary at first. But one thing I love is that you embrace it. And I've heard you say to people, I have autism, you know, I think a little differently. But it was a fear of mine that you wouldn't be proud because of it.
T HENRY: To be honest, I don't really care what people say because people are going to judge you either way. It's not going to stop. I just ignore it and just keep moving on with life or my headphones because my headphones are like the key to my ears. It helps me.
S HENRY: Does it help keep the music in, drown the people out or both?
T HENRY: Both (laughter).
S HENRY: Both? Both. Does it help drown your mom out, too?
T HENRY: Well...
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T HENRY: You put it that way.
S HENRY: I know it does.
T HENRY: (Laughter).
S HENRY: But that's you, though, you know? You've learned how to cope in this hard thing called life. I know you say it's hard being a teenager.
T HENRY: It is.
S HENRY: And adult is harder, baby, and it comes with a lot more ups and downs. There's going to be triumphs and disappointments, unfortunately. But I don't have to speak up for you and tell people who you are. You do that best for yourself. What I wanted for you is what you're growing up to be. You're that light. Be happy. Be healthy. Just be you, though. What do you think?
T HENRY: Love it.
S HENRY: (Laughter).
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MARTIN: Soleil Henry and her daughter, Tamar Anderson Henry, for StoryCorps in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their interview is archived at the Library of Congress.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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