Memoir | Introducing Mia Z. Edwards
From the Housing Projects to the World Stage - Foundations, Part 1 of 6
I go by the pseudonym Mia Z. Edwards.
I was born and raised in the vibrant city of Washington, D.C., growing up in the Southeast housing projects.
I recently retired from my position as an office secretary for prominent officials, but my most memorable role was as a global traveler for the U.S. Department of Prominence, a fictitious agency name I created to protect my anonymity.
I have a light‑skinned complexion and light caramel‑colored eyes. My father is African American, and my grandfather, of British heritage and Caucasian ethnicity, married my grandmother. My complexion likely comes from that side of the family, along with my mother’s naturally light skin tone.
My blend of African American and Caucasian heritage fills me with deep pride in my mixed‑race identity. Yet there were times when I questioned where I fit, wondering whether I was seen as Caucasian or African American.
Despite my appearance, I am proudly African American, so let’s not make any assumptions.
Growing up, my friends would tease me about being “too pale” and tell me to get a tan. If someone called me light‑skinned, I would insist, without hesitation, that I was Black. I didn’t fully understand those feelings back then, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that while my outward appearance may resemble that of a Caucasian woman, my inner identity has always been that of an African American woman.
I have a strong passion for the English language, creative writing, literature, and the art of storytelling, whether through written words or oral narration.
I love gazing at the night sky, admiring the moon and planets through my telescope.
My educational journey took me through American University and Northern Virginia Community College, with my credits ultimately transferring to Indiana University East’s online program, where I completed my associate’s degree.
The weight of student loan debt deterred me from pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Over time, I realized that my extensive government travel became its own form of education, my unofficial bachelor’s degree. Traveling the world, writing trip reports, briefing my supervisor, and thinking quickly in frightening situations abroad shaped me in ways no classroom could.
I’m a political enthusiast who stays informed by tuning in to my favorite cable news networks such as CNN, BBC, and MS NOW. My small cooperative apartment often feels like a bustling newsroom, with televisions on in both the bedroom and living room, and a radio broadcasting local news from the dining table.
While absorbing all that information, I’m usually sweating bullets on my recumbent bike. A girl must keep her figure, after all, and it’s important to keep my body healthy along with my mind.
Still living in Washington, D.C., I proudly own a cooperative apartment unit and drive a sleek Volkswagen Tiguan SUV.
My ambition has always been to escape the dilapidated housing projects, secure an apartment, and find employment within the federal government. In those days, government jobs were a lifeline for single African American women, providing stability and a means to support their families.
Inspired by the strong matriarchs in my community, I realized early on that a government job was my ticket out. I made it happen and succeeded.
Books have always been a source of joy and escape for me. It began when my friend Marion introduced me to my first murder mystery, The Investigation by Dorothy Uhnak. From that moment, I fell in love with the genre.
I briefly explored a book by Anne Rice, but the chilling scenes weren’t for me. Cozy murder mysteries, especially those by Agatha Christie and Carol Higgins Clark, brought me comfort and delight.
I’m proud to have read all seven books in the Harry Potter series.
As a young adult, I devoured the late Jacqueline “Jackie” Collins’s romance novels for their blend of love, suspense, and adventure. As an older adult, I enjoyed the works of E.L. James, including her Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, The Mister, and The Missus.
And that is the essence of who I am.
(Copyright © 2026 by Mia Z. Edwards. All rights reserved.)