Between Two Worlds-Amadou

A time I had to live between two worlds was when I first started elementary school. Being African before I started school, Africans were the only people I been with and spent time with. This includes my family, cousins, and neighbors that were all African and muslim. We all shared a lot of similarities because we grew up on the same culture. When I attended elementary school It was mostly black kids and hispanic kids their who were Christian or Catholic. This was a new world for me because my beliefs and culture was different then there’s and the holidays they celebrated were widely known while mine wasn’t.

I was able to make friends in the school but some kids will try to pick on me and make fun of my race. They would say phrases such as “African booty scratcher”, I don’t know where that came from but they enjoyed themselves saying it. Also the school would emphasize holidays such as Christmas and other Christian holidays by decorating the school and having class parties. I was still able to enjoy my elementary school experience though because I’m very proud of where I come from and no one can take that from me. Even later with more and more school experience by the time I started High School students were showing a lot of love to Africans by then and the school even started to recognize our religious holidays and made accommodation for us during our holidays.

2 thoughts on “Between Two Worlds-Amadou”

  1. Amadou: I feel for you. Facing this kind of prejudice at a young age must be a painful memory.

    GOING FORWARD: This writing piece needs more development. It’s too short! You need a few carefully chosen scenes with more description and details and also dialogue. Search your memory for interesting scenes to re-create.

    A time I had to live between two was when I first started elementary school. Being African before I started school [Were you only African before starting school????? Solution: cut – change to: As an African from _____(country,) my early years were spent with only _____(country) family and friends. Africans were the only people I been with and spent time with. This includes my family, cousins, and neighbors that were all African and muslim. worlds [What are these two worlds exactly? Say in clear terms. What country is your family heritage? IMPORTANT! Establish that your connection to African heritage – what country? What language? Traditions? Were you born there?] We all shared a lot of similarities because we grew up on the same culture.

    When I attended elementary school It was mostly black kids and hispanic kids their who were Christian or Catholic. This was a new world for me because my beliefs and culture was different then there’s and the holidays they celebrated were widely known while mine wasn’t. [Show this “new world” – can you think of a memory of these holiday celebrations at school and describe in a scene from your memory? Or describe the kids at school showing how different they were from your family. Maybe you can show how African American traditions differ from you African traditions. Don’t just tell me SHOW me a different world from yours.]

    I was able to make friends in the school but some kids will try to pick on me and make fun of my race. They would say phrases such as “African booty scratcher”, I don’t know where that came from but they enjoyed themselves saying it. [Search your memory and create this painful scene with the kids taunting you. Where were you, in the lunchroom, did they surround you?] Also the school would emphasize holidays such as Christmas and other Christian holidays by decorating the school and having class parties. [a few words describing the school scene of decorations and party? Then explain your feelings at seeing being in this different world.] I was still able to enjoy my elementary school experience though because I’m very proud of where I come from and no one can take that from me.

    NEW PARAGRAPH–Even later with more and more school experience by the time I started High School students were showing a lot of love to Africans by then and the school even started to recognize our religious holidays and made accommodation for us during our holidays. [so by HSchool, what had you learned about your identity, or your two identities? Can you think of a memory of a school event that shows your heritage being celebrated and how you felt about being included? Show your sense of pride.]

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