The Role of Race

VOX Girls Group brings teenage girls from all around Atlanta together to tackle issues that affect us. The theme of a recent Girls Group Outreach Night was Diversity. We had activitites about identity and stereotypes, and explored the differences of others. We also wrote abut how race plays a part in our own lives.

By Veronica Coates | VOX Staff

Art by Tracy Jackson | VOX Staff

Being Nigerian-American has really sculpted who I am and what I will be in the future. Ever since I was a child, my parents taught me the importance of embracing my culture. It is great to know where my history came from. It is great to know why my eyes are shaped this way and why my hair is this way. It feels great to know that I can speak another language and go to a different continent and call it my home. It feels wonderful to be a strong African woman. Though I’m not 100 percent of any race, I do faithfully walk in the path that people walked in to build themselves up in order to live peacefully in life.
—Nkechi Ndukwe, senior
Stephenson High

I am an African-American girl. I grew up around mostly people who were my color, so I identify with my race, and I am extremely proud of that fact. A lot of times, people may think that black is bad, but when I think of the color black, it means depth and courage in the face of adversity. I want people to look at me and not see just my skin, but my intelligence and creativity.
This year the African-American race as a whole has accomplished a lot: we have an African-American President. It makes me feel like race is no longer a major issue and that no matter your skin color, you can accomplish great things. Since this is Black History Month, everyone of every race should celebrate that America is learning to close the door on racism.
—Veronica Coates, junior
Washington High

I truly don’t believe that race can define who you are. I believe your attitude and how you treat people matters the most. People can be of any race and still be the nicest or meanest person you know.
—Jasmine Fowlkes, junior
North Springs High

 

By Taylor Fulton | Special to VOX

I have mixed feelings about the world we live in. On one hand, the world has changed so much since slavery was abolished in 1865, women gained the right to vote in 1920 and segregation ended in 1954. I now have the right to a great education and can talk to people of all ethnic origins. On the other hand, as I walk through the halls of my school and see the socioeconomic gap between students, I can’t ignore how much more needs to be done.

The biggest challenge to making a difference in my school is trying to change those who refuse to listen. As an African-American female in predominantly black Grady High School, it would seem easy for me to connect with my peers. In reality, I feel less connected to them because I don’t see them. As a member of my school’s Magnet program, I spend most of my time in one area of the school and in difficult AP classes, where there are a serious lack of black students.

My experiences have opened my eyes to many of the struggles that I hoped would go away if I ignored them. I once believed that the comments I received from others about “acting white” or not “acting black enough” were just cries for help. But now I realize that they are calls for change.

I have been working with my school’s Social Diversity Club and as an intern with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a non-profit organization that fights discrimination. (www.adl.org/npfh/)

As a peer leader at the ADL’s Empowering Youth Leadership Summit in Atlanta in January, I had the opportunity to help a group of students realize the important, fundamentally necessary task we have as teenagers to break racial/social barriers in our own schools.

I am not afraid of those who doubt my abilities because of my race anymore. And I don’t stop dreaming of a better future. Taking part in the Summits helped me embrace my goals and helped me realize that there are other teens in the country with the same beliefs who are willing to listen to what I have to say.

The Summit helped me realize a lot about who I am and who I want to be. It helped me to realize that I am unique and that I have qualities and aspirations that can help get this country back on its feet. I only hope that others felt the same way afterwards as well.