A collection of ten stories to inspire you to live your own.
By Ella Welsh
When I was young, my biggest dream was to be white. While other kids dreamt of families or careers, all I wanted was to fit in with my peers, and I felt like the only way that was possible was to wish away my identity.
I grew up in a town with a very small African-American population, and I was constantly trying to mimic what my white friends were doing. I bought the clothes that they wore, even when I knew they weren’t my style, and I even found myself making casual racist comments because they made it seem okay. I began to hate myself for who I was and was doing everything possible to run from my blackness. It wasn’t until I moved out of that town did I realized being Black wasn’t something I should ever be ashamed of.
I found new friends who understood my feelings, and I worked hard to accept my identity and learn to dream bigger. Being a Black man makes many aspects of my life more difficult, but denying my identity will always stop me from true happiness.
N is…
- 20 years old
- Male
- Black
- Dominican
- Straight
- Wealthy
- Atheist