Filmmaker, Brittni Daniels, has to decide if the risk is worth the reward as she chronicles the duality of her upbringing: two mom’s, one chosen, one biological. Will her venture bring her family the unity she’s always desired or further wedge the divide for good?

Raised by a black alcoholic mother of nine in the ghetto of Jacksonville, Brittni is quite mysterious. On the surface she appears to be a somewhat normal eight year old, however behind the mask she has endured a number of hardships. The tipping point arose after the family faced the loss of the only father figure they’d known, their grandfather. Her grieving mother, left parentless, delved deeper into a world of alcoholism leaving Brittni and her siblings to fend for themselves in the confederate south. As life began to prove meaningless, Brittni’s would soon have a glimmer of hope when Linda, a middle aged white woman entered her life. Linda, in way over her head sees Brittni’s potential and the weight she’s shouldering due to her mom’s alcoholism. She develops a bond with Brittni and introduces her to an affluent white world. As Linda becomes more of a prominent fixture, Brittni has to learn to navigate her new world and her current. She began splitting her time between two households placed on opposite ends of the city. One of money and power and the other poor and hopeless. Brittni’s cultural challenges were evident, she had to face backlash within her own family as she now had an opportunity at a future which caused a huge rift centered around jealousy and envy.

If middle school isn’t challenging enough, Brittni faced further devastation when her home burned down. The entire family split and were forced into homeless with Linda taking Brittni and her younger sister Danyell in. Brittni and Linda’s relationship shifted from mentor to mom, but as their relationship grew stronger Danyell and Linda’s relationship started to fade, placing the burden on Brittni to choose between Linda and her family. The decision to continue her relationship with Linda continued to strain Brittni’s family life, she was seen as disloyal and an outsider. Brittni eventually moved back with her family once her mother proved she could provide a stable environment for her kids. Brittni endured a toxic environment while continuing to build a life with Linda, there were many family fights at every turn all while facing not being black enough at home or not being white enough for the rich white kids. For years this became her new normal, well at least until her senior year of high school. Brittni’s family was evicted from their home due to her mom missing rent payments, which landed her in tears at Linda’s doorstep seeking shelter. But this time was different, she was nearly 18 years old and could make her own decisions. Brittni decided to finish out high school and college living with Linda. This was the first time in her life where she could exhale and didn’t have to worry about evictions or bills being paid. As Brittni finished college her family still struggled financially, between her siblings they racked up 14 kids in which Brittni had to help care for. Because Brittni was the only one to finish college and have a career her family leaned on her for money. Although Brittni was in a safe place she still felt the weight of her family, and although Linda was now her mother the idea of not helping her biological family was inconceivable.

Brittni needed a change; she was bogged down by the financial pressures of her family and could not fathom starting a life in Jacksonville, so at the age of 28 she moved to New York City. The move gave her the freedom she always longed for but never had. She was free to love herself, free on the weekends to do whatever she pleased without having to care for her family. She also was free to explore her true passions, passions and talents she never knew existed. Something amazing happened the second month of her stay in New York, she discovered her passion for storytelling, yes a true creative! She found her passion for writing and producing films. Navigating her new found passions, she used her personal story as inspiration and began writing a TV Series. But even through all the new found happiness one piece was still missing. Linda and Brittni’s bond had grown into mother and daughter over the years, however legally that wasn’t true. During one visit back home while Linda and Brittni were eating at their favorite seafood restaurant, Linda mentioned she wanted to adopt Brittni. Tearfully they both were relieved that they had both wanted the same for so long. The adoption had to be kept a secret to keep the peace, Brittni’s family is still in the dark. The relationship between both her families are still strained but once they watch the documentary the family will learn of Brittni officially having a Black Mom and a White Mom.

by Brittni Nicole Daniels (USA)