title: I Belong: My Baptism Scrapbook
author: Valerie Gittings (text)
description: ... This... "guided scrapbook" with explanations is a wonderful idea. -- <i>The Living Church, June 28, 2000</i>
zlib_text:   
  
  ALSO BY TAYARI JONES
  
   _Silver Sparrow_
  
   _The Untelling_
  
   _Leaving Atlanta_
  
  An American Marriage
  
  TAYARI JONES
  
  ![](Images/image00158.jpeg)
  
  ALGONQUIN BOOKS OF CHAPEL HILL 2018
  
  For my mother’s sister, Alma Faye,
  
  and for Maxine & Marcia, my own
  
  What happens to you doesn’t belong to you, only half concerns you. It’s not
  yours. Not yours only.
  
  —CLAUDIA RANKINE
  
  CONTENTS
  
  ONE
  
  Roy
  
  Celestial
  
  Letters  
    
  
  TWO
  
  Andre
  
  Celestial
  
  Roy
  
  Celestial
  
  Roy
  
  Andre
  
  Roy
  
  Celestial
  
  Roy
  
  Andre
  
  Roy
  
  Celestial
  
  Roy  
    
  
  THREE
  
  Andre
  
  Celestial
  
  Roy
  
  Celestial
  
  Roy
  
  Celestial
  
  Roy
  
  Andre
  
  Roy
  
  Andre
  
  Celestial
  
  Andre
  
  Roy  
    
  
  Epilogue  
    
  
  _Acknowledgments_
  
   _About the Author_
  
   _About Algonquin_
  
  ONE
  
  Bridge Music
  
  ROY
  
  There are two kinds of people in the world, those who leave home, and those
  who don’t. I’m a proud member of the first category. My wife, Celestial, used
  to say that I’m a country boy at the core, but I never cared for that
  designation. For one, I’m not from the country