About UsIn memory of my sister, Tanya A. Haman.
This is our last picture together which was taken on a family cruise over the Thanksgiving holiday. Tanya became unresponsive in the early hours of the following morning and was air-lifted back to the United States. She passed away eight days later.
For Tanya, For You.
Brown Skin, too was created in memory of my sister Tanya A. Haman who passed away at the age of 44 from stage 4 melanoma on December 2, 2015, after a 2-month battle post diagnosis.
During Tanya’s last few months, she focused on living and not dying. My family and I celebrated her life each and every day, filling it with all of her favorite things – going to her favorite restaurants, visiting with friends, traveling and spending time with her son De’Andre.
Our mother Joan was Tanya’s full-time caregiver during her illness and fought endlessly to advocate for her, as the disease had already metastasized to her brain.
Brown Skin Too was created in Tanya’s memory to bring awareness to this disease and educate people of color on preventive measures.
About Our Founder
Tereska E. James is an advertising executive with more than 15 years in client services experience. She has led consumer and business-focused initiatives across advertising agencies in Boston, Chicago, and New York for financial services/banking, telecom, retail, and consumer packaged goods verticals.
Tereska believes in giving back to the community and maintains active involvement in philanthropic efforts. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. In addition to serving on the Board of the Classical Theatre of Harlem, she previously served as Co-Chair of the African-American Women’s Leadership Council for the Chicago Foundation for Women. And she was the Associate Board Chair of Scholarship Chicago.
Tereska was also honored as a “Tomorrow’s Leaders Today” recipient by Public Allies, an organization geared towards advancing new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits, and civic participation.
Prior to her mother’s memoir, “Celebrating Life is My Religion”, Tereska also wrote and self-published a motivational guide called “Single-licious: For a Lifetime or the In-Between Time” in 2009 which touted all of the things a woman could do during the “single” season. She often contributes her writing skills and talents for personal, philanthropic and business pursuits.
Born and raised in Delaware, Tereska received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and currently resides in the greater Boston area.