Reflection Paper

In the United States, there are people from all over the world who come from different backgrounds and have faced horrendous things. Some of these people feel that their race is inferior to others, but deal with it in different ways. Although the tension between whites and minorities was at it’s strongest in the 1950’s, today’s world still deals with racial discrimination. The question “Is one race superior to all others?” Some overcome this by believing one person can change how other races perceive them or by confronting the public and shining light on what’s going on in the world. Throughout this paper I will discuss how every person overcomes the stereotypes they face everyday. I will then analyze how stereotyping and discrimination

I am a Hispanic woman who if I am honest have a lot of self hate for myself and my culture. “Internal racism has been the term used to describe the process by which persons of color absorb the racist messages that are omnipresent in our society and internalized them” (Sue, 2016). I grew up in a small border town where stereotypes are made. I never experienced much racism because we were the majority. However, looking at it now I have a lot of self hate, and I always identified as white growing up, because I am light skinned I still believe I can pass for white at least until I moved to Georgia. Living here has taught me that I miss my culture I miss the cooking, the camaraderie, the unity that Hispanics have. The other day I was asked at

As in the Spanish Colonial period, the Spanish classified the mestizos, Spanish mixed with indigenous, as different. Since the start of the new era, humans classified whiter skin to a high social status and darker skin as slaves or lower social status. While moving at the age of nine to the United States I was profiled based on my appearance, race, the difference in culture, language and social differences. While growing up, I had to learn that not everyone was willing to accept foreigners and respect people who are different. Because of the stereotypes that people believed in Mexicans: as being illegal immigrants, unable to speak the English language, or being a gang member. Currently, I have experienced many of

On September 6, 2017, I were documented for an incident that involved a University Housing policy violation. I was charged with violating the University Housing Alcohol 1.2 policy. With my violation, came consequences. I met with The Residence Conduct Coordinator to discuss my actions and came to the conclusion that I would have to schedule a meeting with The Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center (CADEC) and with that, a reflection paper.

Since the day I was first taught about racism and the many consequences that come with it, I’ve felt insecure and uncomfortable in my own skin due to the ethnicity I was born into. This summer along with some recent events have caused my negative feelings to grow progressively worse. Everyone

Walking the halls at school was an overall awkward situation as I attended a predominantly white private school. It was not uncommon for my peers to make jests and snide comments about the oddity of our relationship. I vividly remember the stunned expressions on the faces of my parents and siblings as I explained that my new boyfriend was not white. While my family was accepting of the news, I was warned to not mention my new relationship to my grandfather who would not be quite as understanding as he would only be blinded by his outdated and old fashioned state of mind. Meeting my boyfriend's parents for the first time was unnerving to say the least. I felt like an exhibit at a museum, being observed and analyzed by a group of people who no doubt had already made their own assumptions of my character. I could see from the skeptical look in their eyes that I was nothing more than a vapid and privileged white girl to them. All of these outward opposing forces undoubtedly created friction within the relationship. I found myself questioning if our racial differences were forcing a wedge between our families and friends or if the relationship was worth the criticism we faced. A few short months later, we called it quits, although not entirely due to the racial

I had animosity towards my culture and would wish I wasn’t mexican. I was applying stereotypes myself towards others, and believed I was only white. I went to schools where majority of the student body was white, and hung around only white individuals. I was raised around Italian-American culture because I was closer to my father’s side than my mother’s. My mother never spoke spanish to either my siblings or me and I wasn’t exposed to the mexican culture. However, I wasn’t white either. I focused on all the negativity and was becoming someone who I

Age 11. Life up to this point, at least in my eyes, had appeared to be completely normal. Days were full of [blank], bagged school lunches, and not a care in the world. Despite being a part of a family full of Jamaican immigrants, we had all always seemed as “American” as can be. We stood for the pledge of allegiance, had annual 4th of July cookouts, and never failed to pay our taxes every year. My family’s primary motive to migrate here was evident in their [blank] work ethic, to ultimately achieve the “American Dream” and create a better life for those who were bound to follow after them. However, this “new world” that we had submerged ourselves into never failed to hint at the differences that we all held. This seemed normal to me at first,

I am mixed. Mixed [black/white] people can look mixed, they can look white, they can look black. Although it may make a lot of sense, you cannot always determine a person's race solely off of skin color. When people assume I am fully white it is the same thing as telling me "the entire other portion of your race doesn't exist nor does it matter." I want the other half of me to be recognized. It may not be prominent physically, but that does not make me any less mixed than any other mixed person. There are a lot of slurs and stereotypes directed at people like me: Oreo, the blackest white person/whitest black person (not exclusive to mixed people), mutt, calf, zebra,

“You are the whitest black girl I know”. Throughout my academic career these words have followed me. From a very early age my parents instilled a drive in me to always do my best and take pride in everything I do, because some people aren’t given the opportunity to do so. As a result, I naturally stood out from others who were not as driven. Growing up, I became ashamed about of my accomplishments and demeanor when nicknames such as “oreo” replaced the name my mother had given me because I didn’t act “black”. According to my peers, I was “dark on the outside and white on the inside.” because I “talked like a white girl” and “tried too hard in class”. I believe these undesirable circumstances have taught me the hard way to love myself.

I’m a black male so I must be dumb, violent, and ghetto. My girlfriend is from Ecuador, so she can’t speak English. My mom is from the south of the Mason-Dixon line, so her husband must be her cousin. I was raised in Newark, NJ that must mean I’m a black male who can’t read or selling narcotics on the street corner. I’ve been stereotyped for my whole life. Ever since I came out the womb, I have been captivated in stereotype wheel and I haven’t been able to escape. I despise the fact that I get judged based on what’s the color of my skin, where I was born, what music I listen to, and also what things I like to do. Stereotypes is the biggest weight minorities have to fight against me.There are some groups

Good evening, my name is Alyssa Bosley and, to begin, I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I am 15 years old and currently live in Northern Kentucky. I pretty much follow the basic teenager routine. I stress about schoolwork, listen to music, like hanging out with my friends, and I 'm racist. Wait, did that last one surprise you? The unfortunate reality is that I, along with over half of America, benefit from the effects of white privilege at the expense of people of color. Despite not being interwoven into typical introductions and conversations, white privilege is the acceptance of certain social, political, and economic rights or benefits granted to white people that people of color are inherently not entitled to at an

Restore the word ‘ugly’. Call things ugly out of love and affection. Wear your old patchy jeans and coats. Thank people when they comment on them. Ignore the magazines, wear what makes you happy. Chop your hair short. Grow it all the way out. Stop plucking your eyebrows or shave them all the way off. Your hair and skin are both perfect the way they are, there’s no need to change them unless you want to. It doesn’t matter if you have a bit of chub or a lot of chub, show off every curve. Or don’t if you don’t want to. Eat whatever you want. Smile your biggest, toothiest smile. Show your crooked teeth. Don’t change for anyone but yourself. Laugh deep and loud and cherish every squeak and snort. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re worthless

STOP choosing negative people, or letting negative people choose you as their friends. When you let such things happen, or put yourselves in such a predicament, you automatically become a lowlife and a negative person just like them. Negative people have nothing good that they can talk about, teach you, bring to the table, or offer you. Stay away from them. They’re a bunch of losers, and low self-esteem people with no personality, no dignity, no goodwill, no integrity, and no vision whatsoever. They will do anything because they are shameless. They will bring you down to their level. The brown-skinned negative teenagers, and some adults, are the ones that make it ugly for all other people of color. It’s time for you to start looking at the bigger picture, and start thinking outside the box. I think outside the box because my brain is too big to be kept inside of a box. It just can’t fit. It also allows me to see the bigger picture. You need to change your ways:

There will be many cases where white people are going to think they’re better than you. James Baldwin agrees when he said, “You were born where you were born and faced the future that you faced because you were black and for no other reason. The limits to your