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"I 've been called a plant whisperer," she said, gesturing to her potted garden of wonders. Herbs, vegetables, cacti and even a presumably dead orchid with new leaves adorn her porch with bright greens and deep purples and reds. Candles surround us to keep the mosquitoes at bay and add a warm glow to the already beautiful summer sunset. She is dressed in an outfit befitting anyone wishing to avoid the effects of 200 percent humidity. As we settle, we joke about finding the best summer pants (palazzo, obviously), and her genuine laugh echoes off the brick columns of her house. Mariana Furlin, fierce ally and forever Wesleyanne, unravels her life story and shares how she came to choose Macon – twice. "I was born in Elmhurst, New York, which is in Queens, and then we moved to Hicksville, New York, on Long Island," she said. She spent her childhood among a multitude of cultures that were celebrated regularly, including an International Day. Students were asked to dress traditionally for and share information about their nationality. Smiling, she recounts her mother dressing her as Carmen Miranda, a famous Brazilian performer known for her vivacious outfits and hats adorned with baskets of fruit. is was in stark contrast to her middle school years, when her family moved to South Florida where she witnessed prejudice toward her classmates of color, by students with her skin tone. CHOOSING MACON Mariana Furlin A series featuring individuals from our community who, after some time away, have returned to share their skills and talents here. BY KELLEY DIXSON "I am brown on paper, but my (light) skin gave me a privilege to not be the subject of racial prejudice," she said, adding that she was driven to more tolerant groups and "found shelter in the arts ... in glee club, concert choir, performance choir and in theater." As an adult, her musical talent even led her to singing a concert with the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Choir at Carnegie Hall. Looking to broaden her world view, young Mariana applied to five schools, including Wesleyan College and Mercer University. "I did a day trip to Wesleyan and then a prospective student weekend where I was paired with a freshman to see what it was like to be a student there," she said, adding that she was immediately charged by the electric energy of the campus. "e friends that I made that weekend, I kept as friends." Being surrounded by strong, vocal women provided a cocoon for her to truly establish her voice and find her place in the world. She stepped off the plane and told her mother, "I found it. at's where I'm going." Her years there would be the ones that nourished the sown seeds of her passion for allying with those in marginalized communities. e summer prior to her senior year, she attended a community college close to home to complete one required class for her to proceed with her psychology major at Wesleyan. ere was a notable difference to the respectful, open environment she had grown accustomed to at Wesleyan. She remembers an encounter with a teacher and a male student that showed her the "impact of Wesleyan's education" when she was interrupted mid-sentence by the teacher to turn the attention of the class to him. Because of her previous three years at Wesleyan, she felt empowered to speak out against sexism. "We've all been that woman," she said, citing the recent response to the verbal attack of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But, she believes there is no group more discriminated against than black women, and throws her fervent support behind movements that advocate for them, including the Black Lives Matter and MeToo movements. In her philosophy, those who wish to be allies should "own up and realize that systemic racism is a real thing. It's not the responsibility of your friends of color to educate you, it's your job. ... People shouldn't be ashamed to admit that they still need to PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE YOUNG 80 maconmagazine.com | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020