YOU’RE NOT REALLY ONE OF US!

L P SIMMONS,
LONG BEACH, CA.

IT’S SO HARD BEING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE THAT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE GAINS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. I HAD THE CHANCE TO GO TO COLLEGE FREE AND EXPERIENCE A LOT IN LIFE. BECAUSE THESE ADVENTURES ARE NOT COMMON TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THE EXPERIENCES AND MYSELF REALLY AREN’T WELCOME IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOW I STAND ABOUT 6-5 AND 265 AND OF COURSE I STAND OUT WHEN I GO OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY. TO THIS DAY I STILL PROUDLY WEAR MY CLASS RING AFTER THIRTY YEARS. PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER WILL ASK, “WHAT’S THAT RING FROM…. WHERE DID YOU PLAY BALL”? WHEN I TELL THEM THAT IT’S FOR GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE, THE SMILES TURN UPSIDE DOWN. THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD ANOTHER COLLEGE ATHLETE AND THEY BECOME VERY DISAPPOINTED.

I GUESS WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT WHERE EVER I GO, I JUST CAN’T BE MYSELF. I AM SUPPOSE TO BE SOME CONCEPT OF A PERSON TO FIT THEIR IMAGE. THEN I AM NOT EMBRACED WHEN THE PEOPLE FIND OUT, “YOU’RE NOT REALLY ONE OF US”! I AM NOT ONE OF THE BROTHERS . I AM NOT THE PRO/COLLEGE SUPERSTAR THAT YOU WANT ME TO BE. I AM JUST A MAN.

SIDEBAR: I WOULD SAY THAT I AM WELL SPOKEN. SO WHEN SOMEBODY SEE A WELL SPOKE , OVER SIX FOOT TALL AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE, THEY THINK THAT YOU’RE A PEACE OFFICER.


What is your 6-Word Story?
Related Posts
Asian Americans are sterotyped beyond belief
Asian Americans are sterotyped beyond belief
I’m outspoken, now I’m a threat!
I’m outspoken, now I’m a threat!
White Slavery & The Myth of White Privilege
White Slavery & The Myth of White Privilege

Comments are closed.