Being African-American isn't easy in Law School
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:18 am
My friends in high school used to always tell me that it was a cop-out to write about being black in an essay/personal statement. I considered them to be correct until now.
My life as being black is an interesting one. I grew up around mostly rich white kids who drove suburbans and played football. I, then, was caught up between two worlds. My home life was very culturally African-American, and my school/social life was very Caucasian. I could never figure out how to reconcile these differences. To make matters worse, my skin was a combination between black and white, making me 1/4 Caucasian. Despite this, though, I was able to be strong and become the true woman I am today.
Being black is a little like being Jewish. You just never know what's going to come next. In third grade, some 8th graders came by my locker, when I was all alone, and told me that I was in the wrong school. I said to these 8th graders, "Shoo!". They didn't leave. Next thing I knew, they were taking stuff out of my locker and throwing it on to the ground. I thought it wasn't 1960 anymore. Nevertheless, I overcame and know that I am better now because I have done exceptionally well in academics and have gained the respect of all my peers (black or white) because of this. And this is the really the point here. It takes courage, willpower, and perseverance to really make it in this world, despite your color. People will respect you for what you do, regardless of how you do it.
My life as being black is an interesting one. I grew up around mostly rich white kids who drove suburbans and played football. I, then, was caught up between two worlds. My home life was very culturally African-American, and my school/social life was very Caucasian. I could never figure out how to reconcile these differences. To make matters worse, my skin was a combination between black and white, making me 1/4 Caucasian. Despite this, though, I was able to be strong and become the true woman I am today.
Being black is a little like being Jewish. You just never know what's going to come next. In third grade, some 8th graders came by my locker, when I was all alone, and told me that I was in the wrong school. I said to these 8th graders, "Shoo!". They didn't leave. Next thing I knew, they were taking stuff out of my locker and throwing it on to the ground. I thought it wasn't 1960 anymore. Nevertheless, I overcame and know that I am better now because I have done exceptionally well in academics and have gained the respect of all my peers (black or white) because of this. And this is the really the point here. It takes courage, willpower, and perseverance to really make it in this world, despite your color. People will respect you for what you do, regardless of how you do it.