Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Gration, anozivikanwa nezita rake repakati Scott, akaberekerwa muSt. Charles, Illinois, mwanakomana waDorothy E. (née Harpel) naJohn Alexander Gration. Vanasekuru navanambuya vake vaiva vokuBritain. Akapedza makore ake okutanga ari muduku mune yava kunzi Democratic Republic of Congo (yaimbova Belgian Congo, gare gare Zaire) neKenya, apo vabereki vake vaishanda sevadzidzisi vemamishinari. Mutsara wokutanga waakataura waiva muchiKiswahili, uye ave achitaura chiKiswahili kwoupenyu hwake hwose. Mukati meCongo Crisis
mukutanga kwema1960, mhuri yake yakabviswa katatu, uye vakava vapoteri, vakatamirazve kuKenya pashure pokubviswa kwechitatu muna 1964.