Author Archives: rheaharmsen

About rheaharmsen

Rhea Harmsen is a scientist, novelist and author of Language of the Spirit, a volume of selected poems. She has also released three novels, The Harvest of Reason, Intermarry, and God Created Women. Harmsen was born in a family with a black father and a white mother at a time when interracial marriage was still illegal in some states. Her parents gave her a vision of world citizenship that informs her writing and her lifestyle and has caused her to reject traditional views of race and gender. Harmsen's article "Science in the Hands of Women: Present Barriers, Future Promise" appeared in World Order in 1998 and provides the foundation for the story line for her novel The Harvest of Reason. She co-published the Monroeville Race Unity Forum Bulletin and authored many poems on racial topics, crystallizing the "conversation on race" in the novel Intermarry. Her work with domestic violence survivors in Puerto Rico inspired the novel God Created Women. Harmsen holds a doctorate in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She currently resides in Puerto Rico. Upcomming projects are described in her web page at rheaharmsen.com

That day

Posted on September 7, 2020 by rheaharmsen

I wish I could enshrine that dayIn my mind, nay, in my soulAnd share it still.It was a perfect dayA day in which I drank my fill.And store for a time to comeWhen we shall no longer beTogether as one. … Continue reading →

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Black Feminism on the Fourth of July

Posted on July 4, 2020 by rheaharmsen

When is a slave no longer a slave? Is it when she thinks she is free? Is it when time no longer has relevancy? No, the twenty-first century Does not free me. When there’s a pandemic and I become The … Continue reading →

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The Proposal

Posted on June 16, 2020 by rheaharmsen

“You’re leaving?” she asked. Daniel was packing up his backpack. Not recklessly, jut methodically. His military training. “Of course,” she scoffed. “We’re in the middle of an argument, and you’re leaving.” “You keep the car, Kira,” he said, putting the … Continue reading →

Posted in interracial, interracial marriage, multicultural, multiracial, national discussion, race in America, Race Relations, racial mistrust, unity in diversity | 1 Comment

Did the corona virus just save the Earth?

Posted on March 21, 2020 by rheaharmsen

by Rhea and Eric Harmsen A recent picture taken of the atmosphere over Italy just showed a significant decrease in pollution over that country, correlated with its coronavirus lockdown. It even talked of fish and dolphins coming back into the … Continue reading →

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Reframing Motherhood in the Context of Equality: The right to health

Posted on May 12, 2018 by rheaharmsen

Originally posted on Rhea Harmsen:
MOTHER’S RIGHTS, segment 2 of 5 (see previous post) REFRAMING MOTHERHOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF EQUALITY The Right to Health The low priority afforded worldwide to the health of mothers is a fact wholly incongruous…

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What are the rights of mothers?

Posted on May 12, 2018 by rheaharmsen

Originally posted on Rhea Harmsen:
How important is motherhood to us as a society? I want to generate a dialogue on how our global society views, upholds or defends the rights of mothers. During the next 5 days I will…

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The cat that sits

Posted on March 11, 2018 by rheaharmsen

The cat that sits in the kitchen floor Has refused to go out when I open the door He does not meow but will not be swayed He wants his food poured in his plate How often have I seen, … Continue reading →

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Raised from the Dayspring of Grandeur

Posted on January 12, 2018 by rheaharmsen

Reflecting on the day’s sad buzzword, which is so heartbreaking. There are historic reasons for the state of nations. There will be an accounting, where some will be shown to have grandeur and some will be found wanting. Raised from … Continue reading →

Posted in history of nations, national discussion, peace, political debate, race in America, slavery, Uncategorized, unity in diversity | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Grandpa Ed was badass

Posted on November 26, 2016 by rheaharmsen

Grandpa Ed was badass Yeah. Forgive the word badass, it doesn’t come easy to my generation. But it is, in fact, the word that fits. And I thank the generation that coined it. In 1954 my father, Edward James Howard, … Continue reading →

Posted in baha'i, bahai, equality, freedom, global discussion, interracial, interracial marriage, multiracial, national discussion, new world order, Paradigm shift, peace, race, social justice, Uncategorized, unity in diversity, universal peace, war | 1 Comment

Words for Robert Reynolds (M.I.A.)

Posted on November 11, 2016 by rheaharmsen

On this Veteran’s day I want to share a poem I wrote in honor of POW (Prisoner of War) Robert Reynolds, my mom’s first husband and the father of my sisters Tina and Carolyn. Briefly, the story goes like this: … Continue reading →

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