CVK
If you’d like to learn more about this case, or if you have information that could help the family, please visit www.tamikahuston.com

Dear Ms. Chau and Ms. Van Kerckhove:

Please look again carefully. I believe you’ve failed to notice both Rebkah’s and Tamika’s mixed heritage when this seems to be what your blog is devoted to.

My sister, Rebkah is half Ethiopian and half white American. [FYI, Rebkah is the Amharic translation of Rebecca. Ethiopia is located on the horn of Africa.] Her niece Tamika is the oldest child of her half sister Gabbie who is full Ethiopian. Tamika is related to Rebkah by blood, not by marriage. Tamika is also of mixed cultures – half Ethiopian and half African American. Rebkah, having an Ethiopian mother and an American father; especially identifies with her niece Tamika who also has a similar parentage. Tamika is very proud of her mixed race family.

Gabbie, Rebkah and the rest of our mixed, black, white and brown family came to the US when Gabbie was 13 and Rebkah was 1. As a family, we’ve endured negative comments and misunderstanding from all ethnic groups and races.

Meanwhile, it’s been the most horrific year for our family yet. We have been wondering and working constantly to find out what has happened to our dearly loved niece. How do I explain to my 9 year-old blue eyed daughter that the media does not see fit to cover the disappearance of her eldest cousin who she idolizes, when every time we turn on the television there always seems to be news stories of other missing young women?

Your assumptions about my sister’s race and her relationship to Tamika were probably not intentional. Also, she was chosen as family spokesperson because of her profession. However, imagining you’ve been victims of similar assumptions, I believe you’d want to correct your error immediately.

Thank you very kindly,

Melanie Friedman
Tamika’s Aunt
Rebkah’s sister