ipl-logo

Personal Narrative: My Life As An African American

933 Words4 Pages

Although I, my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and previous generations were born in the United States; being an involuntary immigrant is something that has always crossed my mind since I was a young child. I always wondered what life would be like now if our ancestors were never taken from our home and brought to “America”, but what African American hasn’t. Growing up a young African American female with sickle cell anemia I’ve encountered several socio-cultural dynamic situations. As a child, my parents somewhat sheltered me from the reality and negativity of the world, partly because I would be too young to understand, and because they wanted me to make my own decisions. I went to an elementary school that was predominantly black, …show more content…

I didn’t really click to a certain group of people I was friendly to everyone and got along with people pretty well regardless. Until one year, I had become pretty close to one of the most popular white girls in the school. She was genuinely nice to me; we bought each other Christmas presents and everything. I had never considered her race until I noticed how she and her white friends would get away things that anybody else would get in trouble for. At first glance it didn’t really bother me, it was unfair, but I never thought much of it until one of my black friends showed me how consistent it had become. It was teacher appreciation week, and the parents brought in special desserts for the teacher only. However, my white friend and her group of friends got some of the desserts too. This event happened and that was when the concept of white privilege actually sunk into my head. I don’t want to say I was naïve; things just didn’t seem to bother me the way it bothered the other kids who looked like me. I had let race begin to consume my mind and felt that what was happening was unfair, and begin to take it out on my white best friend. I got so jealous, angry, and frustrated that we eventually stopped being friends. My view of the world had forever changed since that one moment in middle school. I began to stop

Show More
Related
189 Words | 1 Pages

need to get used to being around those of different races. After having stated her opinion on that topic Giovanni goes into telling her opinion on why it’s so important for African-Americans to go to

Read More
537 Words | 3 Pages

There is one particular example that I can think of in my personal life that goes along with this theme of ‘white privilege.’ I attended Northeast Guilford High School, which is a primarily African American high school. Therefore, I was the minority. Right before I transitioned from middle school to high school, the district lines in my county were ‘redrawn’ and many of the black students who used to attend Eastern Guilford that lived in the lower income housing were now being sent to Northeast. It was almost as if they wanted to pull as many of the African American students into one school because they didn’t want those students of color to be attending the same school as the rich, white students.

Read More
253 Words | 2 Pages

I’m Black Dominican with two past long terms relationship in my life both white guys ,I just love white males, so in I always like interracial couples even though I did date someone same dark skin color as me during my dating times , which I considered a nice looking tall guy , well-educated and financially stable, we go out a few times trying to get to know each other further, however the relationship didn’t move forward basically because it was more of curiosity on my behave than anything else in reality I just wanted to at least try someone outside of my ethic group but I knew I didn’t like dark skin man as partner but it’s different when it comes to relationship I don’t have any problem friendly wise but I can’t cross

Read More
669 Words | 3 Pages

I introduced myself to her, and without knowing, we became best friends. Due to my friendship with her, people began to look at me differently. I could tell, but I ignored it hoping the uneasiness would go away, but of course, it didn’t. The next few weeks were hard, but I endured. The constant picking and teasing about my best friend being a girl really affected my self-esteem to the point in which I didn’t want to speak to anyone.

Read More
243 Words | 1 Pages

In the past I have struggled with my biracial identity. As a child I was confused about which community I belonged in because I am a mix of Navajo and Caucasian. As I got older, I began to question myself and who I was. I felt like I did not belong to either the Native or Caucasian community because in both groups I felt like someone else. I felt as if I had to live two lives that were completely separated.

Read More
239 Words | 1 Pages

My childhood was bound with questions of why. Why can 't I stay out late? Why can 't I wear that?

Read More
1071 Words | 5 Pages

Especially when I take a look at the dynamics of the people I have met. Growing up from birth to middle school majority of my friends were white. I had some black friends too but I primarily chose my friends on things we had in common. My mother found this very concerning that I would only bring my white friend over to the house.

Read More
468 Words | 2 Pages

My identity has always felt inextricably linked to what Miami is. A city that is teeming with immigrants, a city with dreams stacked and slopped atop each other, and a city that is living proof of the failed American dream. I say so because of my early observation that generation after generation of immigrants often seemed to stay trapped in dead end jobs; I saw this within my own family – within my grandmother, my aunts and uncles, and even my cousins. Here it was even within my own family tree the deep implicit message that there was no way out of our socioeconomic level. When I made it into an Ivy League college, it was a message that was slowly re-enforced by the fact that my demographic was the most represented in the custodial staff rather than within my own classmates.

Read More
504 Words | 3 Pages

When a friend told me that her parents would never allow her to date someone of a different race, I couldn’t understand why. When I revealed my biracial heritage to a black friend, she became noticeably warmer toward me and happily shared the news with her friends as we walked by them in the hall. My much darker sister does not share these experiences. We draw from the exact same gene pool, but my sister ’s complexion allows her complete racial inheritance to shine while mine cloaks half of it.

Read More
84 Words | 1 Pages

The negative treatment and pain I received as a black girl, and still into my adulthood, it amazes me how I'm still standing tall and strong. It amazes me how people have tried to break me, even my own kind, but I'm still here. Truth is I gotta to have thick skin and protect myself, because I got no choice. If I don't... who will? And that is the everyday life of living as a black woman.

Read More
1157 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout my life I have come from and created a few identities for myself. Perhaps, the most dominant identities that have been apart of my life are being an athlete and being a family orientated man. In this paper I will write about how my identities have shaped my life. First off I believe my biggest identity is being an athlete.

Read More
1601 Words | 7 Pages

When filling out a questionnaire, it is only a matter of time before I come across the predictable: what is your race/ethnicity? I do not have to think long nor hard about my answer. In fact, I do not hesitate to pencil in African American. Why is that? It could very well be that at a glance my skin tone and accent is enough for people to quickly label me as such thus reaffirming my identity.

Read More
1872 Words | 8 Pages

In middle school is when I had my first African American boyfriend. I remember my biological father being very upset and not speaking to me. When he finally did start speaking to me, he made jokes and remarks degrading my boyfriend. This relationship continued throughout high school and my father refused to meet him. I went to a public high school where I was slapped in the face with diversity.

Read More
1127 Words | 5 Pages

Life as a Native American sucks. I realized this when I was a little kid. I’ve come to accept that what other people label or describes us as are true. I’m not happy to admit this they are right. My people don’t do anything to prove these people’s claims, or better known as stereotypes, about Native Americans wrong.

Read More
1546 Words | 7 Pages

While I have known throughout my life people of different races the majority of people who I have lasting relationships have been white. Growing up I remember being taught about the history of racism and how I should view and treat all people as equals. I find it hard to address myself as having white privilege because I will never know exactly how it has affected my life. I know that it is easier for me to buy many makeup and hygiene products because my skin color and hair type are considered more of the standard. I also know that I have never had to worry about being discriminated against because of my race.

Read More

More about Personal Narrative: My Life As An African American

Related Topics

Open Document