Transcript
When I was a kid, I thought the American Dream was to be successful when I grow up. But I’ve come to terms with my identities over the past few years.
When Trayvon Martin was murdered, I thought that the person who did it was obviously going to go to jail. And when they didn’t, I realized that someone my age could literally die without justice.
My history classes were taught as if America was constantly winning. I’m an American and right now, I don’t feel like I’m winning.
Now, my American Dream is still to be successful, but I recognize all of the things that might hinder me. I want to be an engineer, and there’s not many African-American men who hold high positions in the field.
I know that people are less likely to hire me because preconceived ideas of who I am based on my race. But that pushes me. I work three times as hard because that’s what it takes to be an African-American in the United States at the end of the day.
A is…
- 21 Years-Old
- Male, Cisgender
- Black, African American
- North African
- Muslim
- Lower Middle Class
- Bisexual