Ke Se,
Des Moines, IA
Black, but I do white activities
There are so many people who can relate to this sentence. Whether you are Mexican and like black music, whether you are White and love the Asian culture. Or being black and doing activities that are more common to white people, such as myself. Growing up there were television shows that labeled white people activities, such as Jack A**.
Growing up in Chicago, IL, I was different than my surroundings for sure. Panic At the Disco “I write sins not tragedies” was the first “weird” song I had on repeat. I loved listening to Pink and Christina Aguilera, but the rest of the household did not like nor understand the way it sounded. Fishing and hiking caught my attention in the Girl Scouts, but it was not a regular activity for my neighborhood. Now, I am living in Iowa, and I go to DMACC. It has given me the opportunity to do common ‘white people activities’ with no judgement. I love to fish and listen to pop music in the car. Going to country concerts has become a yearly tradition, leaving me in suspense for who will perform the following year. This does not mean I do not look forward to hip hop artist coming to little old Des Moines, IA. These ‘white people activities’ are nothing more than a preference every person is entitled to have or experience, if they so choose. Going through scrutiny for my music preference as a child should not have been an identity battle. People should not have to look in the mirror and question if they belong in the skin, they’re in based on the limited opportunities their community has to offer. This world is full of alternative lifestyles, and I am happy to experience all of it. This is a part of my identity now. These are descriptions I can say when someone asks, “what makes you, you?” There are no longer limitations on myself based on what is socially acceptable in my community. And I am proud of that.
