Stop questioning if I’m really Black
Adrienne Adams,
Indianapolis, IN
I thought it was a battle my children would never have to fight in the 21st century. I was wrong.
No longer want to prove worth
Milicia,
USA.
Growing up I received the message that I had to be better than Whites. I didn’t want to embarrass my ethnic group, this I must strive to be better than “them”. I worked hard to prove that I was better. I’m an adult and must say that I don’t know what all of this truly meant. While I acknowledge my grandmother’s feelings and the battle that evoked them, the hope that she carried for me led me to question my worth as a Black person. I’m challenging a lot of ideas and will tell you that I am worthy as I am in my skin and no comparison allowed.
I’m only human, as are you.
Allie Herb,
Akron, OH.
Living in the area that I do, I have experienced a lot of racism. Whether it be in Akron, or have heard about it in the Cleveland area. It’s a never ending battle.
Progressing but where’s the finish line?
Candace Ewing,
Lansing, MI.
As much as I would love to see race as a topic discussed sole to embrace differences (in a positive fashion) as opposed to still working on tearing them all apart (negatively,) I think the battle is one that will be fought for a very long time. We are moving closer to the finish line (evident by the progression throughout the last few decades) but negativity still exists. Until every person on this planet can learn to be open minded and accepting without judgement, the finish line will may never be reached. At this point, we can deem it to be non-existent. The fight may be fought forever.
Their war is now our battle
Drew Powell
Bangor, ME
When the American Civil War ended 150 years ago, slavery was abolished in the United States, and the war between whites and blacks was seemingly over. But, a statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Although the war on slavery was over, there remained a nationwide tension between white people and black people. No, black people were no longer enslaved by whites, but many questions concerning their available rights remained in society. In our country today, under the leadership of our black president, blacks are given every right that a white person is presented with. But, the battles are far from over, as there remains a societal view that white people have a greater self worth than black people. Everywhere we look today, in the magazines and in the movies, there are countless young white woman and men, whereas it is a rarity to spot a black person in the same place. Even though black people have every right that white people have and are seen as equals in the eyes of the law, there remains a sense of confliction between the two races. Society’s view of beauty and self worth as we know it today is intact, but with an increasing amount of respect and pride for the black community, the long held beliefs are becoming uprooted. Although it’s been 150 years since the men fighting in the Civil War saw slavery abolished, and American society has evolved a great deal, and it is apparent that their war is now our battle.
