Personal Narrative: Simply Shaped My Life

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Derrick Gary Robert Jones HHS - 101 10 November 2009 Meeting Kiana greatly shaped my life. I can remember the first time I saw her. Her short hair, long legs, and light skin had me captivated. I had to meet and get to know her. Nothing would stop me. Not the fact that she was older or cheerleading captain or even the fact that she was white and I was black. You see, I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia in Clarkson; a diverse community housing several Asian, Haitian, and African-American residents; but not white. The only Caucasians I’d ever been in contact with were the ones that were my teachers and the ones I’d see on the news channel in the morning as I left for school. Also, my parents raised my with a negative outlook on white people saying that are not to be liked or trusted, so my initial…show more content…
I was speechless. Her father looked like he wanted to reach across the table and strangle me. Instead he asked me, “So what do you plan to do in the future Darren??” My initial perceptions of the situation were that Caucasians were mean, bossy, gave a lot of homework and were very articulate. I had undergone previous experiences which helped me to shape my initial perceptions. My parents are very ignorant. They raised me to believe that white people were the enemy and that they couldn’t care less about black people or the culture. I thought about telling my parents that some white people were actually very friendly and helpful. When Kiana greeted like an equal and listened to me, which influenced me to question my initial perceptions. I began to view the situation as a learning experience rather a bad one. I was having a deep conversation with white people who didn’t immediately think the worst of me. My revised perceptions about the experience was that white people are caring, honest, and generally good
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