Soleil Henry has always known her daughter, Tamar, was special. As a child she learned “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” on the violin in just 20 minutes, and at 17 she’s an accomplished singer and pianist as well.
Tamar also has autism. Her mom brought her to StoryCorps in Charlotte, North Carolina, to reflect on the importance of knowing and being yourself.
This conversation was recorded for StoryCorps’ Brightness in Black initiative, highlighting the joy, aspirations, and complexity of Black voices in the United States.
This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Originally aired January 24, 2025, on NPR’s Morning Edition.