Growing up in Fairhope, Alabama I have witnessed prejudice for most of my life. However, when I was young child in school I did not have a clear understanding of what it meant to be prejudice and to stereotype others. It was not until I reached middle school that I became more aware of minorities and the judgement that surrounded the different ethnic races.
My hometown of Fairhope is located in lower Alabama on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. It is a predominantly white community consisting of middle and upper class families. The African American population is rather small, and there is very little interaction between races unless it is at a sporting event. My family would be classified middle-class and often times I felt inferior to my peers
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Brianna was opinionated, intimidating, and quite loud. She seemed to enjoy the fact that I was white girl. I remember thinking it was so cruel how she would call me “white girl.” She often vocalized her views to our class about how I was dressed and even spoke. I was raised to use nice manners when speaking to my teacher. Many times Brianna frequently bullied me by mocking what I would say in response to a question. It was so rude. She even assumed I had a nanny that took care of me and taught me how to behave correctly. In reality, Brianna never knew I came from a divorced family and was being raised by a single mother. I always did my best to look polished at school. I simply wanted to blend in with everyone, but Brianna would classify my wardrobe as “so white” and “preppy.” One day in Science class she took notice to the pair of shoes I was wearing. She assumed they were an expensive pair of Sperry brand shoes the majority of the school was wearing, but actually they were a pair of off brand boat shoes that my mom purchased on sale. Brianna must have really wanted a pair of those shoes because she made me trade shoes with her in class. I had to let her wear my boat shoes, and she insisted I wear her Air Jordan’s which were much more expensive than my off brand shoes. I thought it was going to be a light-hearted joke, until she pointed out how “white” I looked in her shoes to the entire class. Then she mocked me and my mannerisms and tried to act like a white girl. I felt not only embarrassed, but humiliated. Brianna brought me to tears through her words, as well as her actions. I had never noticed the barrier she must have felt between us until that incident took place. Brianna assumed I was a girl of white privilege based off the way I spoke and how I presented myself to society through my clothes. This was my first experience regarding reverse discrimination. Although it