Wanda Lee Florestine: Writing Through Race, Reflection, and Resilience
Born in Detroit, Michigan, as the youngest of nine children, Wanda often heard the words “be quiet.” Rather than silencing her perspective, those moments became the foundation of her voice. Through note-taking, reflection, and eventually storytelling, she found a powerful outlet for emotions, lived experiences, and truths that deserved to be shared.
Today, Wanda is the author of 50 Years of Assimilation, From the Midwest to the “Woke” West and All the Blackness & Whiteness In Between—a deeply personal nonfiction work that blends memoir, essay, and social commentary into a compelling examination of race in America.
A Book Born from Urgency and Hope
Wanda’s book was inspired by a deeply painful national moment.
When Trayvon Martin was murdered, her son was just 10 years old. That event became a turning point, fueling her desire to write something meaningful that could help bridge racial divides and encourage dialogue before more Black sons became victims of systemic injustice.
Rather than simply recounting history, Wanda created what she describes as a “Dream Report” to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Her book is structured as a series of letters to Dr. King, written decade by decade, reflecting on how the dream of desegregation actually unfolded for the first generation of African Americans who inherited that promise.
This unique format offers readers a personal and historical lens into race relations in America, showing both the distance traveled and the promises still left unfulfilled.
A Perspective That Complements Powerful Literary Voices
Wanda draws a thoughtful comparison between her work and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me.
While Coates writes directly to his son, Wanda writes to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the broader American audience. Together, these works offer contrasting but complementary perspectives on the realities Black men and Black women face in a nation still shaped by race.
Her storytelling is honest, reflective, and grounded in lived experience.
As Wanda explains, college was where she first realized both her gift for writing and the fuller reality of what it meant to be Black in America. Those experiences became central to her work as a nonfiction author focused on truth-telling and cultural reflection.
More Than an Author
Wanda brings over 30 years of professional experience as an HR consultant, having worked across industries including renewable energy, IT, biotech, fintech, healthcare, and publishing.
She is also a graduate of the University of San Francisco, where she studied Organizational Behavior—an academic background that aligns naturally with her continued exploration of race, systems, and freedom in American society.
Her writing has extended beyond the page.
Wanda has used her book as a platform for speaking engagements, DEI education, corporate training, and community workshops. It has also given her the confidence to connect with influential public figures she admires, including Martin Luther King III, Danny Glover, Van Jones, W. Kamau Bell, Melissa Harris-Perry, Michael Eric Dyson, Susan L. Taylor, and others.
While formal endorsements did not materialize, the courage her book gave her to initiate those encounters remains one of its lasting rewards.
The Emotional Weight of Finishing a Book
For Wanda, completing her book was transformational.
She describes the process as emotionally cathartic—like shedding 200 pounds of emotional weight.
Awards didn’t measure the achievement, but by something more personal: healing, confidence, and proof that commitment can turn vision into reality.
One quote that resonates deeply with her journey comes from James Baldwin:
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
That sentiment echoes throughout her work.
Advice to Aspiring Writers
Wanda’s message to other writers is simple but powerful:
“Your voice matters. No one else has your story, in your shoes, and that makes it unique. The only competition is your doubt.”
It’s advice shaped by lived experience, courage, and a willingness to face difficult truths.
Connect with Wanda Lee Florestine
For speaking opportunities, workshops, professional inquiries, or to connect with Wanda:
Email: wanleeflo2022@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/112757793/admin/page-posts/published/
Wanda Lee Florestine: Writing Through Race, Reflection, and Resilience
Born in Detroit, Michigan, as the youngest of nine children, Wanda often heard the words “be quiet.” Rather than silencing her perspective, those moments became the foundation of her voice. Through note-taking, reflection, and eventually storytelling, she found a powerful outlet for emotions, lived experiences, and truths that deserved to be shared.
Today, Wanda is the author of 50 Years of Assimilation, From the Midwest to the “Woke” West and All the Blackness & Whiteness In Between—a deeply personal nonfiction work that blends memoir, essay, and social commentary into a compelling examination of race in America.
A Book Born from Urgency and Hope
Wanda’s book was inspired by a deeply painful national moment.
When Trayvon Martin was murdered, her son was just 10 years old. That event became a turning point, fueling her desire to write something meaningful that could help bridge racial divides and encourage dialogue before more Black sons became victims of systemic injustice.
Rather than simply recounting history, Wanda created what she describes as a “Dream Report” to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Her book is structured as a series of letters to Dr. King, written decade by decade, reflecting on how the dream of desegregation actually unfolded for the first generation of African Americans who inherited that promise.
This unique format offers readers a personal and historical lens into race relations in America, showing both the distance traveled and the promises still left unfulfilled.
A Perspective That Complements Powerful Literary Voices
Wanda draws a thoughtful comparison between her work and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me.
While Coates writes directly to his son, Wanda writes to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the broader American audience. Together, these works offer contrasting but complementary perspectives on the realities Black men and Black women face in a nation still shaped by race.
Her storytelling is honest, reflective, and grounded in lived experience.
As Wanda explains, college was where she first realized both her gift for writing and the fuller reality of what it meant to be Black in America. Those experiences became central to her work as a nonfiction author focused on truth-telling and cultural reflection.
More Than an Author
She is also a graduate of the University of San Francisco, where she studied Organizational Behavior—an academic background that aligns naturally with her continued exploration of race, systems, and freedom in American society.
Her writing has extended beyond the page.
Wanda has used her book as a platform for speaking engagements, DEI education, corporate training, and community workshops. It has also given her the confidence to connect with influential public figures she admires, including Martin Luther King III, Danny Glover, Van Jones, W. Kamau Bell, Melissa Harris-Perry, Michael Eric Dyson, Susan L. Taylor, and others.
While formal endorsements did not materialize, the courage her book gave her to initiate those encounters remains one of its lasting rewards.
The Emotional Weight of Finishing a Book
For Wanda, completing her book was transformational.
She describes the process as emotionally cathartic—like shedding 200 pounds of emotional weight.
Awards didn’t measure the achievement, but by something more personal: healing, confidence, and proof that commitment can turn vision into reality.
One quote that resonates deeply with her journey comes from James Baldwin:
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
That sentiment echoes throughout her work.
Advice to Aspiring Writers
Wanda’s message to other writers is simple but powerful:
“Your voice matters. No one else has your story, in your shoes, and that makes it unique. The only competition is your doubt.”
It’s advice shaped by lived experience, courage, and a willingness to face difficult truths.
Connect with Wanda Lee Florestine
For speaking opportunities, workshops, professional inquiries, or to connect with Wanda:
Email: wanleeflo2022@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/112757793/admin/page-posts/published/
Share On Social Media
Latests Posts
Angela Smith: Building a Legacy of Purpose, Healing, and Impact
Dr. Ericka L. McKnight: Helping CEOs Reclaim Their Power Through Self-Care
Katrina Collins: Empowering Women to Rise, Heal, and Walk in Their Purpose
Pamela D. Smith: Guiding Women Toward Rest, Peace, and Emotional Wholeness Through Prayer
Wanda Lee Florestine: Writing Through Race, Reflection, and Resilience
Kenya Henderson: Crafting Stories of Faith, Healing, and Second Chances