I have protested the stereotyping of African American children because of where they have came from or for what they wear. I know a lot of children that came from bad neighborhoods, yet are some of the smartest children in the school. I feel like coming from a bad neighborhood motivated them to be better so that they could get out of that neighborhood. I also know some children that have come from great neighborhoods and have the worst of grades. Some feel like since they came from a spoiled and privileged home that the world will be handed to them on a silver platter or that their parents will take care of them for the rest of their lives. Society tells us that just because you come from a neighborhood of violence and drugs, that you are automatically associated with that lifestyle. And it also tells us that if you came from a neighborhood of safety and well rounded families, that you automatically will be successful. Yes, more than 40% of the time that is true. But, society would have you believe that it is always true. I try to prove society wrong everyday. I was raised by my grandmother, and when finally got to live with my parents they divorced 1 year later. I now live with my dad, who is a single parent. Society has told me that a child raised in a single-parent home can't excel as well as a child that has both parents living in their home. But, that is far from the truth. My grandma raising me is one of the best things for me. I may not have excelled as well as I did if she hadn't. But when people hear that she raised me, the first thing they ask me is" Was your parents deadbeats or abusive or something?" No, my dad chose to leave me and my brother with her because he knew that we would be safe and have a better life if we lived with her and were surrounded by structure form our aunt and uncle. But people expect me to be a "bad" child because I was not with my parents or because I came from a "broken" home. Well, I see nothing broken about my home or my family. Why do they assume? I guess that's just they way they see it, even if their perception is completely off. I am a bright and well- behaved child. Yeah, sometimes I make mistakes, but I always get back up and continue to strive to be the best I can be. That is the result of me living on both sides of tracks. I know what it is like not to have both parents in my life and I also know what it is like not to want for anything, and also have family that stands behind me 100% of time.
