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Leah Watkins's avatar

Growing up I lived in a white suburban neighborhood and my school was predominantly white. I’m fully black but everyone made me feel like I was mixed. I even would get asked by other black kids if I was fully black because of how I sounded and where I lived. I hated it. I just wanted to be what I was, which was black. I would also get the “ugh Leah you’re not like other black girls, like you’re not ghetto” “your hair is always straight and it’s yours” “you’re an Oreo” and I used to be so pretentious about it until I got older and realized this was disrespectful and discriminatory. Then of course being in black circles I would get “why is your hair so long!” There was no way to win. I was so happy after I got into college and I could discover myself fully.

Now that I’m adult, married, and wanting my own kids, I want to be so careful on the words that I say. My husband is white so they will see the world in a completely different way. I worry about it sometimes, but I’m praying I can bring joy and uplift them in anyway they need. I loved your post I connect with it so much!

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