Marra B. Gad
Award-Winning Author of 'The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl'
President, Egad! Productions
Advocate for Mental Health, Racial Equity, and Adopted Children and Families
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Marra B. Gad is an award-winning author, speaker and independent writer/producer. As president of Egad! Productions, she oversees the development and production of scripted television series and films.
A grateful child of adoption, Marra speaks internationally about her transracial adoption in 1970, and her experiences being Black/White biracial and Jewish through the lens of her debut memoir, THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl, winner of the 2020 Midwest Book Award for Autobiography/Memoir.
Marra proudly holds a BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MA in Jewish History from Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University. Deeply committed to expanding and exploring the notion of belonging across multiple spectrums, Marra is a member of Soho House International's inaugural Inclusivity Board.
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Rave Reviews About Marra B. Gad
Marra Gad was an invaluable resource and asset to my Panhellenic Association Recruitment training at the University of Maryland. Although Marra is not the typical speaker that is brought to Greek Life across the country, she perfectly delivered a perspective that inspired my community to want to be better in our efforts of combating racism and other forms of exclusion that have existed in Greek Life for over a century. Marra engaged beautifully on what it means to belong and how to accept the honest truth when sometimes that is hard, especially for young adults. Through sharing personal experiences, truly being an open book, and answering any questions that came her way, Marra instilled confidence in me as a leader and in my community as we are about to expand through our recruitment process in a couple months. Just as Marra was not the typical speaker for us, we were not the typical audience for her. However, that did not stop her, and she was ready to take on a new challenge and delivered it beautifully.
- University of Maryland Panhellenic Association
A Sample of the Groups That Have Hosted Marra B. Gad
Maryland Panhellenic Association
University of Maryland Panhellenic Association
Congregation Rodeph Sholom
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization International Convention
University Synagogue - Los Angeles
St. Louis Jewish Book Festival
Jewish Federation of Sacramento Region
Hadassah Midwest - Chicago
The American Conference of Cantors Annual Conference - National
In Conversation clip - The very beauty of Judaism is what I lean into to carry me through the deepest challenges | ACC Nat. Conv. [4:29] - Get Sharable Link
https://www.harrywalker.com/speakers/marra-b-gad?videoid=43434
In Conversation clip - The very beauty of Judaism is what I lean into to carry me through the deepest challenges | ACC Nat. Conv. [4:29]
In Conversation clip - No one ever thinks of themselves as racist | ACC Nat. Conv. [3:00]
Explore Talks By Marra B. Gad
The Color of Love - A Conversation with Marra B. Gad
What is it like to be Black, white and Jewish in a world that clings fiercely to the notion that Jews are white and Black and brown people are either Muslim or Christian? Through the lens of her debut memoir, THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl, Marra Gad shares her deeply persona ...
What is it like to be Black, white and Jewish in a world that clings fiercely to the notion that Jews are white and Black and brown people are either Muslim or Christian? Through the lens of her debut memoir, THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl, Marra Gad shares her deeply personal story with the hope of fostering greater understanding about the expansiveness of identity.
Transracial Adoption/General Adoption
A grateful child of a transracial adoption at birth in 1970, Marra B. Gad celebrates her family and speaks intimately to the constantly evolving experience of adoption and being raised in a transracial family. ...
A grateful child of a transracial adoption at birth in 1970, Marra B. Gad celebrates her family and speaks intimately to the constantly evolving experience of adoption and being raised in a transracial family.
Alzheimer's and Caregiving
Marra B. Gad took an unexpected journey into the challenging world of Alzheimer's and caregiving when she became the caregiver for her great Aunt Nette, which is chronicled in her memoir, THE COLOR OF LOVE. She speaks to the transformational nature of the disease; both for the patient and for those ...
Marra B. Gad took an unexpected journey into the challenging world of Alzheimer's and caregiving when she became the caregiver for her great Aunt Nette, which is chronicled in her memoir, THE COLOR OF LOVE. She speaks to the transformational nature of the disease; both for the patient and for those around the patient.
On Racism, Rejection and Mental Health
Born Black/white biracial and Jewish, Marra B. Gad has never known an embrace from the tribes that made her. She speaks candidly to the toll that racism, bias and rejection have taken on her and on her 30-year embracing of therapy as an act of self-love and preservation. ...
Born Black/white biracial and Jewish, Marra B. Gad has never known an embrace from the tribes that made her. She speaks candidly to the toll that racism, bias and rejection have taken on her and on her 30-year embracing of therapy as an act of self-love and preservation.
Learn more about Marra B. Gad
Marra B. Gad candidly discusses mental health and resilience
As a Black/white biracial and Jewish woman, MARRA B. GAD has experienced a lot of criticism, harassment, bullying and hate because of her identities and their intersections. Gad candidly shares her experiences with audiences about how the harassment led her to having suicidal thoughts as early as her teen years and connects her story to how belonging impacts mental health. This realization led her to become deeply committed to expanding and exploring the notion of belonging across multiple spectrums. Gad's story is one of true resilience- being surrounded by negativity and both overt and "discreet" discrimination her entire life, growing through years of therapy, and finding her own happiness to become the person and advocate she is today. Audiences come away with powerful insights about mental health and personal growth, with a more empathetic perspective of those around them.
Marra B. Gad helps organizations have complicated conversations that move us closer to inclusivity and belonging
With the state of the world today, many organizations are thinking about diversity, inclusivity, and belonging, but don't know where to begin in making real change. MARRA B. GAD understands the power a thoughtful conversation can have in creating unity, educating, and making positive changes.
A person with many marginalized identities as a Black/white biracial and Jewish woman adopted at birth, Gad is keenly aware that she doesn't fit into what are considered to be the traditional boxes we typically expect of people, overtly or subliminally. And she acknowledges that it can be challenging to talk about it. Instead, she encourages us all to take a step back from these boxes and look at each other as human beings with unique, nuanced experiences in life, but also with so much in common. Through disarming conversations and keynotes, Gad shows audiences that having these complicated conversations does not have to be all that complicated – we just have to start – and that examining our biases to become more inclusive is something we all have to do, no matter our identities.
From conversations on college campuses to discussions with corporations about where to start with inclusivity, Gad tailors her talk to each unique audience, but always shares one underlying theme – expanding on the idea of what it means to belong in order to come together based on our differences, embrace them, and embrace each other.
Books by Marra B. Gad
The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl
Tweets by Marra B. Gad
Fresh Voices From HWA's Newest Speakers
Standout Jewish Speakers for Successful Events
Continuing the Conversation with Diversity & Inclusion Speakers
Rave Reviews for Speakers at Jewish Events!
Book Review: In The Color of Love - The Jerusalem Post
Why this Mixed-Race Jew Loves Hanukkah - Jewish Book Council
'If Not Now, When?' Mar­ra B. Gad On Writ­ing Her Story - Jewish Book Council
Our True Colors - Tablet Magazine
When Silence Speaks Volumes - Jewish Book Council
I am a Biracial Jew. Joe Biden Helps Me Feel Genuinely Safe. - Times of Israel
Your Life Too - Jewish Life Council
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Share Biography of Marra B. Gad
<p>Marra B. Gad is an award-winning author, speaker and independent writer/producer. As president of Egad! Productions, she oversees the development and production of scripted television series and films. </p> <p>A grateful child of adoption, Marra speaks internationally about her transracial adoption in 1970, and her experiences being Black/White biracial and Jewish through the lens of her debut memoir, <a href="https://www.marrabgad.com/book">THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl</a>, winner of the 2020 Midwest Book Award for Autobiography/Memoir.</p> <p>Marra proudly holds a BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MA in Jewish History from Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University. Deeply committed to expanding and exploring the notion of belonging across multiple spectrums, Marra is a member of Soho House International's inaugural Inclusivity Board.</p>