I have heard that most of my life. I have been accused of thinking I am better than someone because of my skin color and my hair or because I carry myself a certain way. I spent years trying to explain myself but with maturity I realize it was never my problem. I was raised by strict Jamaican parents. It wasn't acceptable for a young lady to be out on the street corner hanging out. I do not yell to people down the block and I despise having my name screamed out on the street. I don't look down on people who do that I am just not comfortable carrying myself in this manner. I only ask that they respect my feelings and not cream my name in the street.
I had no control over the color of my skin or the length of my hair. I never understood why people felt that my complexion made me feel superior. I come from a diverse family. I wasn't aware how important color and long hair was to people until it was brought to my attention. I for one like my hair long because I hate doing hair. Long hair can easily be put back into a ponytail or a bun. Most of my female cousins have long hair so it was never a big deal. I looked like everyone else. My skin color could have been an issue if I cared. When we first moved from the city to the suburbs there was one other family of color on the block. The kids wouldn't play with me because they said I was white. My skin is not that light. The white children wouldn't play with me either. I am an only child and quite comfortable enertaining myself. I also had a lot of toys. When the other kids saw the toys I had they forgot my color. This was in the early 70's. I was a confident child and never thought as a person of color I had any restrictions. I think that was partly due to my Jamaican Heritage. In Jamaica you see people in all types of professions that look like me, a person of color. I was very influenced by the label you think you are better and spent time with people who weren't doing the right things or weren't good for me just so I could prove I didn't think I was better. Now I realize people will think what the want of me regardless. I'm not stuck up just a little reserved. It is my nature to be quiet until I get to know you. I don't think I'm better than anyone I'm just trying to be the best person I can be.
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And being the best person is all that you can be.
Trust me, people only dislike others because they are jealous of something they think the other person has that they don't. I almost look at it as a compliment now. Haters don't bother me. It is only when you mess with that which is most important to me - my children, family, friends, my man - that I have a problem.
As yes, also being the child of a Jamaican parent, we are raised to be proud and respectable. We resepct others but don't tolerate being disrespected. We are taught to work hard and appreciate what we have. More than being rich, we learned to look at the richness in our lives.
These are the qualities I look to instill in my children.
Nice post.
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