Racism In Elementary School Essay

Approximately 326 million people live in the United States, seven percent of the population consists of African American dropouts. Seven percent may seem insignificant, but 228 thousand students abandoning their education is extremely life altering. My first day of elementary school my parents told me to be different, and be the change our black community desperately needs. From that day forward, I vowed to have a successful future, and defy the statistics. My entire life I have been categorized and put into a bubble filled with assumption. My destiny has been predetermined by those who wish to see not only me, but my entire race fail. Going into elementary school I was not able to fully grasp the concept of racism and racial profiling. All I knew was that there was a large group of people who wanted to hurt me and hated me for the color of my skin. My friend group was ethnically diverse and hatred was nonexistent among us. Each school day I
My close friend Audrey and I were hanging out on the playground with her little sisters. Her aunt had come to pick them up from school when she first noticed me. I said my goodbyes and waved hello to their aunt. She shot a dirty look at me and ignored my friendly gesture. I tried not to think too much about it, and went on with my day. The next day at school Audrey and her little sisters avoided and ignored me. Naturally confused I confronted Audrey when she was alone, and asked her why she was being so rude. She informed me that her aunt told them that they are forbidden to hang around me, due to the color of my skin. Her aunt was afraid I might have a negative effect on them, and perhaps pick up some bad habits. Little did she know that I was actually doing everything in my power to avoid those very stereotypes. Audrey did not stick up for me, in fact, she hung around me in secret and never stood up to her aunt. Her silence was the approval of her aunt’s