Parker Wood,
Chicago, IL
I grew up in the suburbs. Away from “hoods” and gang violence. I also did not grow up around my Black side of the family. My father married a white woman and her family is all I knew for a decade of my life. I was never out of touch with my culture, even growing up in a pre dominantly white area. For some reason when I got around other Black folks, I was made fun of. The way I dressed, talked, the things I like. I even got made fun of for wearing a dress shirt and slacks to a “Cookout”. I’ve experienced worse scenarios that cannot be mentioned. To say the least, why has most hatred come from my own people?