A Bit about Me

I grew up in Sacramento CA. in neighborhoods that were predominately African American. Most days I was chased home by 20 to 30 classmates because I am white. Some days I didn't make it home. I was beaten many times trying to protect my sisters. When I was 13 I learned why I was hated. I was sent to Arkansas to a small town which had on its welcome sign "Don't let the sun shine down on your black ass." I looked at that sign and town as if I would be safe from the beatings. I was safe but others were not.  One night friends and I went to a market and in the parking lot was an African American truck driver who tried to go in the store. Five white men verbally assaulted him then chased him back to his truck and demanded he get out of town before he ended up 6 feet under. They did to him what had been done to me. At first I was with them because I wanted vengeance for what had been done to me. Later I started learning about slavery. I learned about the devastation's in African American culture and began to see my beatings as retributions for my forefathers faults. I found peace in knowing I was stereotyped and almost became that stereotype. Now I write to end judgment of a person by their look. There is much more to a person then their rapper. I broke the cycle of discrimination in my life and my children will be taught how to break that cycle too. Pain can only continue if we do not come to terms with what causes it. Love to everyone my sisters and brothers. We are the legacy.