Spitting Image: A Foundling's Memoir of Faith and Gratitude

by Ronald G. Levi Jr.

A 40-Year Search for Truth

One bright summer afternoon on weekend errands with his mother, 10-year-old Ronald's faint suspicions that he is adopted are confirmed by his mother's careful, well-practiced announcement of the truth. As a child whose appearance is close enough to that of his extended African-American adoptive family, he has always felt a part of them, but now things make a little more sense, and a 40-year odyssey of seeking his genetic truth is triggered. The formative years of spiritual training by his Baptist Minister grandfather return to steady him as he is confronted by startling revelations of his birth-parents' past and his abandonment at a Detroit hospital shortly after birth. Spitting Image is a sweeping saga spanning hundreds of years that results in the creation of one unique human being who against all odds survives them to deliver a message of faith and great hope. Are you ready for the truth?

380 pages, Paperback

Published November 9, 2020

About the author

Ronald Levi is a family historian, genetic genealogist, and certified Project Management Professional who has helped hundreds of researchers build family trees and interpret their own DNA test results. He is co-founder and president of the non-profit Louisa Harvard Foundation. Born in Detroit, Ron now lives in San Antonio with his wife Frances. They are proud parents of 3 adult sons. Spitting Image is his first memoir.

Reviews

[Aida Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than just an adoptee’s journey of self-discovery, Spitting Image is particularly relevant in 2020 when people across earth are feeling increasingly separate from one another. White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Indian, American, Foreigner, Democrat, Republican… all labels used to separate. Ronald G. Levi Jr’s research helps readers to discover that we are really all connected to one another. The extent of his research, and the connections to names we all know was nothing short of amazing. The book left me wanting more, even though the mystery had already been solved. Hollywood will just have to make a movie out of this, so we can all get more of it!.

[Ronald]

Upon receiving the results of my 4th DNA test, the amazing and completely unpredictable revelations rolled in like a tsunami on the heels of a deep-sea earthquake. With each new discovery, I said sometimes under my breath and sometimes aloud, "No one is going to believe this." "This is so much stranger than fiction, it deserves to be memorialized in a book." The desire to capture it all was born 5 years ago in 2015, but the desire to find my truth began much earlier - even before I learned in 1974 that I was adopted. I hope you will enjoy my finally-finished work, Spitting Image: A Foundling's Memoir of Faith and Gratitude, which is released in eBook, paperback and hardcover versions on Monday, November 2, 2020. If you do enjoy it, if you are inspired, encouraged, uplifted, or in any way heartened by it, there are a few people I'd like you to help me thank.

Frances Lillian Stephens - my dearest, most faithful, patient, kind, fiercely protective, "family-first" cousin: none of this would have been worthwhile, interesting, or even possible without your love for your family, without your tireless dedication to truth, history, legacy, and faith. God has blessed you and will continue to do so. You are an incomparable blessing to all who know you.

Linny Yint - my search Angel. You saw through the dust and fog of centuries clearly from the very start. You focused on the facts, undeterred by shiny titillations, and so gently guided me to an acceptance and understanding I never imagined possible.

Emmilie, Michael, Annie, Bianca, Doug, Pam, Marcia, Brittany, Lisa, Susan, and so many more cousins who tested your DNA or met with me to discuss our results. For accepting me when you didn't' have to, and for being people I am proud to call my own.

There is not enough time in history or the future to convey the breadth of my gratitude or depth of my sincerity. Even those cousins who preferred not to have any contact confirmed everything we learned when they sent in their samples.

Last but not nearly least, I must thank my wife Frances and my sons Laurence, Austin, and Zachary. You have been beyond patient as I exorcised this story from my being. It may have been peripheral to you, but it was central to me - something I had to get out and to share. I hope you are proud of the end result and know how dear you are and will always be to me.

Rather than putting a link directly to the book on Amazon here, I hope you don't mind helping me by searching keywords and scrolling through the results to find my books (self-help, adoption, African American, biracial...). The eBook and paperback are available to order on Amazon now. The hardcover and paperback will be available everywhere else next week. If you don't see it on the shelves at your local independent bookstore, ask them to order it for you.

Finally, I have a special request for all who read my book. If you like it, if there is anything in it that strikes a chord, makes you feel good, or gives you hope or encouragement, please take a few minutes to write a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you can, and share a link with your friends. I'm hoping this book speaks to different people on different levels, and I hope one of those levels is yours. May God bless and keep you always. Thank you.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only reason why I couldn't give this book four stars was because of the proofing mistakes. I proofread as part of my job, so this was probably more evident to me than your average reader, but that's my disclaimer. I also wanted to thank the author and Goodreads Giveaways, because I received this book in no time at all, free, and even signed by the author! That's a gift, especially during this time of the pandemic/scamdemic.

Now, for the book! The story. I did like this story, and the boy, the man, the father, Ronald, seems like such an introspective guy, and so likable and discerning. My favorite parts about this book were the stories of his life growing up, but that's not even really what the story is about. I liked how he and his mom lived and dealt with the tragedies that life on this sinful world brought them. There were several times where I was like, "Yes, Mamma, that's right," the way she handled things or explained things or even just DID things, such as her methods of cleaning...and never ironing! I also wrote down several phrases and quotes I especially liked, so I could refer back to them in my what I call "Keepers" journal. Here are a few:

"until the day of his great reward"
"lost that accent like a pound on a treadmill"
"The relationships were rock solid, each one a brick in an ever-growing wall of identity."

We think the way we do things is natural, but they are only so because we learned them early and practice them that way often. (perfect explanation)

There is never a bad time to become familiar with God's word, but the sooner it is within us, the sooner it can be brought to our defense. (I already shared that with two groups at church! Exactly!)

And to make sure I'm not neglecting the actual purpose of this book of such an amazing yet at times treacherous journey of life and discovery of truth, I must add this one, too:
In a time and place when it has become common to accept views and opinions that support our own biases, I refused to leave any stone unturned, especially if there were any chance of error.

[Tracey Monica Martin]

A total page turner about one man's phenomenal genetic journey that spans across chasms of race, class, time and the globe. As a veteran child protection attorney, to me, this memoir covers the intersectionality between the quest for personal identity using the science of newly accessible DNA technology in finding one's true roots. Exploring concepts like "genetic reparations," race as a mere social construct, and unity in hyper divided times---makes this tome timely, relatable and highly relevant. Full disclosure: I am proud to say the author is none other than my cousin, Ronald G. Levi. -- Tracey Martin, Esq.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the great pleasure to meet Ron Levi at a meeting of the Bulloch County Genealogical Society last October and, while there, picked up his book. I immediately began digging into it when I got home and found myself engrossed by his story.

This book is wonderful. Ron’s skill as a writer is such that I found myself feeling like I was journeying beside him as he described his life from childhood on and as he searched for his history and heritage. There were several times, especially in the first part of the book, when I had to put it aside to digest what I’d just read. Sometimes I would come back to it hours later; other times weeks would pass before I felt I could tackle the rest of his work.

Regardless of your interest in family history, this is a book that needs to be on everyone’s shelf. The passion Ron put into this work, and the honesty with which he tells his story, is absolutely admirable. Trust me, if you read Spitting Image, you’ll come away from it a better person.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the adoptive mother of a multi-racial foundling, I was drawn to this book for insights and ideas. I came away with just that. This book is also as much about race as genealogy and DNA and provides a window into diverse life experiences by Blacks and Whites.

As another reviewer noted, the book would benefit from a good editor who could correct its errors. I would have also preferred a streamlined narrative of the author’s fantasies about what could be the truth behind his parentage. These imaginings made it sometimes difficult to discern the true story.