Up until this year, I had never
actually embraced being black.
Throughout most of high school, I became accustomed to suppressing my blackness. My freshman year, I grew
ashamed of who I was. High school is already such a detrimental environment for
a person's self-esteem, and it wasn't made any easier when you're told,”You
would be prettier if you were lighter.” One would figure that the people
closest to you would be there to uplift you, but that wasn't the case
whatsoever. Being oppressed by a “friend” is a horrendous feeling. Imagine not
being able to meet someone's parents because of your skin color. A color. Such
a minor detail that “contrasts” one physical trait of one person from the
other. Personally, I believe that what
really defines a person is their level of depth, personality, and morale, as cliché as it may sound. I find it
ridiculous how people feel uncomfortable hearing the word “black” used to describe a black
person, but when I walk around campus, the same person won't flinch to use
derogatory terms in relation to my skin complexion that make me feel
uncomfortable and unsafe. Why is black
so centered around hate? Skin complexion does not define a person, and it took
me most of my life to truly understand this concept. The first thing people
will distinguish me as will always be black,
as well as all of the stereotypes associated with it. I am not expected to earn
a college degree, and am considered lucky to even receive a high school
diploma. I am expected to be anything but extraordinary. Yes, I am black, but there is so much more to me
than just a color. I am persistent, relentless, beautiful, tiresome, outspoken,
flawed, intelligent, and compassionate. Focusing on the things that make me
great and the positive impacts on my life have helped in disregarding the
ignorant comments of others. Today, I celebrate and embrace my ethnicity,
because I know I am beautiful. I encourage everyone to promote love and
deepen/broaden their level of thinking. After all, love and understanding is all
we really need.
32 comments:
I am so happy you decided to write about this. Sadly everything you said in the beginning is true and although it shouldn’t be it just is. I really enjoyed this piece and I hope you inspire many more people to think just like you! Great work !
This really made me feel sorry for the people that can't go beyond the color of skin. we are all one big family and we should celebrate diversity and learn we all matter. I loved this alot and really enjoyed reading this. I loved how you bolded the word black to fulfill the purpose of this piece.
I really enjoyed this piece. I found it very motivating and up lifting. Throughout the passage you can see how you grew to appreciate who you are and it really takes a lot out of a person to get there. Your tone definitely contributes to this, at first you give off this very insecure and sad feel, but as you progress through the story you're able to see the tone shift into strength and confidence. You did a great job on this Desinty!
This is so well written and empowering! I’m glad you are embracing your culture and ethnicity and I’m sure this piece also empowered other people to embrace theirs as well!
Destiny this was so amazing. I can honestly relate. Being “Black” has so many connotations surrounding the word. And today l feel it is easier to truly embrace it. I feel like especially with social media boasting the confidence in young girls of color is a focus and you just explained what it means to love who you are regardless of others opinions.
Avalon Freeman
Pd.2
I love this honesty and self-love that this piece promotes. By emphasizing the word "black" by putting it in bold lettering, you showed that you have nothing to hide and even more importantly that your skin color (and the rest of the world's) does not and never will determine your beauty. I like how you said, "Yes, I am black, but there is so much more to me than just a color." This really drives home the point. Absolutely loved this piece.
BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL! Always remember that. This is relatable as I am also black and I would hear and see people use derogatory terms relating to our race in public and online. People judge and stereotype us for our skin color, but we do not let them get to us!
I really love that you embrace your blackness. Being black is amazing and your story is so relatable especially during these times in the world. Your story was inspiring and remember that peoples stereotypes don't define you.
I love this so much. I honestly felt the exact same way my freshman year and I'm barely starting to embrace my blackness. This was very nice to read knowing that someone else feels the same way.
-Mia Tolliver
period 1
Destiny you are so beautiful and if anybody has something different to say then they need to open up their eyes. You are always such a positive influence to others, and I am so glad that you love yourself. You are honestly one of the most influential people at etiwanda and you should be proud to be you. I love how self loving this was and you worded everything so perfectly in this. You're MY president, MY captain, MY queen, and I'm so glad to call you my friend! Love you Dest!!
Destiny, your piece was well written and amazing! Honestly, it's amazingly beautiful and empowering because we could all use motivation to love ourselves, and promote self-love to others. Your piece empowered a part of me to remember to be boldly proud of my ethnicity, and love my beauty beneath my skin.
When reading your piece I truly loved the emphasis and bold letters of "black". It brought more emotion and the importance of your message.
Overall, I loved reading your piece!
I love love loved this! you are so amazing Des I am so happy you figured out your beautiful no matter what. I truly enjoyed reading this is was so special. I liked how you bolded the word "black" and created this picture where the color of your skin doesn't matter. Keeping loving you inside and out because self love is key!
This piece is very honest and reminds everyone that discrimination based on skin color is still very prevalent in today's culture although we try so hard to shield it with other, less important, "issues."
Destiny, the way you wrap your words and personal life around such a volatile and contentious subject truly emphasizes your talent as a writer. You push aside meaningless colors and advocate the traits that should be valued in someone's character. Hopefully the rest of the world will grasp what you propose soon.
This was such a beautiful piece and unfortunately I can agree, people always seem to associate black with negativity. I can tell how much you've grown as a person by reading this and how it effected you. I'm really glad you took the time to write about I hope it opened someones eyes. Great job!
Thank you for sharing your experience. I respect how honest you were with yourself and to us. I liked how you detailed the word "black" to further your points. Your story reminded me when I entered high school and was ashamed of who I was, also. I let society oppress me and listened to its lies. But at one point I had enough and decided to grow out an afro most of my high school life to show my identity of who I am: black and proud. It was a pleasure to read your story and I'm glad you are embracing who you are!
-Joseph Madere Period 1
Dest, you wrote about a very sensitive topic to most. I will always admire how you step outside the comfort zone. Through your piece, I I felt emotion such as encouragement and sincerity. You literally always use your voice in any opporutnity given. Good work. #MyPresident
This passage was so uplifting to all black women because we all experience this everyday. Its horrible that this is the world that we live in. I love you so much for being brave enough to write this. You go girl!
Very well written! It is amazing that you intertwined your own personal hardships with the common perception of the word "black". I loved that you showed how you truly embrace your complexion and put down the stereotypes as we all should.
I can relate to this on a personal level (many other people as well). I admire how you address this issue directly as it can be a hard topic to discuss. You do it such a classy and outspoken way. I'm glad that you've been able to truly accept who you are by empowering the word "black." This was a very well done and inspiring piece. Great job!
This was great! I really liked that the passage was from a first person point of view and I think that since you provided the audience with a first hand account of events in your life, it resulted in a great piece. Good job!
Destiny, I liked how this piece covers a sensitive topic (to most people) and speaks upon what we can do to solve this problem. You covered things that really get overlooked during high school because they are deemed "normal". I really enjoyed your writing and I am glad that this piece ended on a good note.
Your piece of writing is truly sensational. Thank you for talking about a subject that people think is much to controversial to talk about. Your writing truly gives people a perspective of how beautiful people of color are treated and now people can begin to think critically about saying those things twice. I applaud you and thank you for your writing!
This is a great piece and I'm glad you decided to talk about this topic. It is inspiring to see you embrace your true self and make sure no person of color lets anyone else tell them what they are. Many people of all races can relate to this and what they are stereotyped with, thank you for letting your voice out!
Destiny, I really loved how you discussed such a controversial topic in such a graceful way. There is such a negative portrait of black people in media today and I'm glad to hear how you overcame the negative stereotypes and became a stronger person because of it. Excellent work!
YES. I am utterly proud of you and this piece of writing. Black is BEAUTIFUL, STRONG, DARING, YOU, ME. I too, for a very long time, was ashamed of my race, my culture and overall my physical appearance because my peers and society thought black wasn’t good enough. Black women are often left on the back burner, we’re at the bottom of the pyramid. However, you writing this reminds me that we are black and we are proud and we will not let stereotypes define us. Great work!
YES. I am utterly proud of you and this piece of writing. Black is BEAUTIFUL, STRONG, DARING, YOU, ME. I too, for a very long time, was ashamed of my race, my culture and overall my physical appearance because my peers and society thought black wasn’t good enough. Black women are often left on the back burner, we’re at the bottom of the pyramid. However, you writing this reminds me that we are black and we are proud and we will not let stereotypes define us. Great work!
Your choice of addressing a sensitive topic is one that is very commendable. I love how you spoke up on a problem that might be considered taboo or overlooked. Your use of emotional appeal and reasoning help to explain your thought process and make for a great piece. Great job.
Destiny, I admire your determination to surpass these stereotypical boundaries that have been seemingly set for you. Considering this is a topic that is usually spoken of in a negative manner, the fact that you were able to communicate it with a positive attitude and a sense of empowerment, just shows how strong and passionate of a person you are. Your use of bold was excellent, as ironically, it "boldly" emphasized and brought attention to what many call a sensitive subject
Destiny, I really enjoyed this piece. I liked how you bolded the word "black" to emphasize the overall meaning to the piece, which brought out even more emotion. You are very empowering, and I admire how you don't let stereotypes define who you are. Well done!
-Eliana Rodriguez
I love that you decided to speak your mind about this whole situation. I definitely have gone through and am going through the same thing. I sometimes myself feel ashamed to be who I am and I know that some of the people I hang around contribute to that. This definitely makes me feel a little empowered and makes me want to take more pride in who I am. I also admire how you used the " sensitive " in bold every time you said it. That really got the message across and made the audience slightly uncomfortable, but making us realize how serious you and this message it.
The message you invoked with your writing is truly beautiful. We live in a time where racism while "at a low" still exists and we cant let them win. We all, no matter our skin color, have to embrace our true identity and accept who we are. I could see how this writing came directly from your heart, this made the reading more enjoyable for us as readers because we were able to connect with you on an emotional level, and also make a connection to our own lives. Good Job.
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