Racism through the eyes of a biracial college student

The discourse community that I am in, is that of a seventeen year old mixed (African
American/ Italian) first generation college student. That alone shows the struggles that I have to
face everyday in life. All of my life I have been singled out when it come to my ethnicity, a big
part might be because I do not look like what a half black/ half caucasian person should look
like. Im generally thought to be mexican or of latino descent, which has caused many people to
want to try to discriminate against me even those of my own race, as I am constantly called a liar
by others because they frankly do not believe me when I say that Im mixed. Some who actually
understand my ethnicity, seem to actually frown down upon me as they believe that Im not
Pure. Even my family has been judgmental towards my ethnicity, rather it be my Italian uncles,
or African American relatives. Even though many dont place me in the African American
culture, I still have strong opinions on obstacles that African Americans face on a daily bases
rather it be: Racism, Police Brutality, or Black on Black crime. I have seen a lot in my life in
regards to these three topics, and being mixed has given me an even deeper insight into how, and
why these plague the black community.
I have witnessed a lot in terms of police brutality, rather it be through personal
experience, social media, or family experience. Actually my cousin (African American), has been
harassed by police for a while now because he is a part of the B.L.M. movement in Oakland. It
actually escalated to the point where he was arrested, (for literally no reason) when he was
released from jail he told me and my kin how he had been treated terribly by officers, and how
he was repeatedly threatened. Many people seem to have a surreal belief that police officers in
this nation do not seek out African Americans, or other people of color. ...even though the facts

back it up that From 2005 to mid-2008, approximately 80 percent of total stops made were of
Blacks and Latinos, who comprise 25 percent and 28 percent of New York Citys total
population (civil rights.org). This was deprived from a survey which showed the amount of
caucasians pulled over, as opposed to latinos and African Americans in New York City, from
2005-2008. This is an extremely staggering piece of evidence to support the claim that more
African Americans are pulled over than caucasian people. Many young men have lost their lives
to police officers in the U.S., many of them my age simply because they committed the crime
of being black. Tamir Rice, Cameron Tillman, Michael Brown, are just a few examples of young
African Americans who have been killed by police officers. Tamir Rice was just twelve years
old when he was killed; so for those who disagree with the claim of police brutality on blacks, I
tell them please explain to the mother of Tamir Rice why she had lost her son if not for the
corruption in our police departments. Frankly many African American people believe that they
cannot get pulled over by a police officer without running the risk of being arrested, incarcerated,
or even killed; and this persona must be changed.
My family is actively involved in the B.L.M. branch in Sacramento, this has given me a
first hand look at racism at its finest. While at a peaceful protest downtown my grandmother and
her friends were scolded by people passing by, and were called unamerican and they were even
told by some to leave if they didn't like the way police serve.grandmother has told me stories
of her being called the n- word, and of her not getting a job because she was black. The B.L.M. is
scolded by many well-known people in America, Bill O'Reilly, Tomi Lahren, Joe Walsh, etc. are
a few examples of well-known people who have scolded the movement. As it is believed by
them to be A racist group, and is commonly blamed for the shooting of police officers in
Dallas. Meet the new KKK, they call themselves Black Lives Matter but make no mistake

their goals are far from equality. #Dallas #BlueLivesMatter (Tomi L.). Tomi Lauren has
persistently scolded the BLM movement, as she believes that it is not trying to create equality,
but a way for African Americans to try to make themselves seem better than every other race
in America. This accusation is completely ludicrous, as the goal of Black Lives Matter is to
create equality and to finally give African Americans a voice in America. The goal of BLM is to
create unity, and create a community in which everyone is equal. But one can argue is the
movement actually completing their goal, or is it creating a feeling in which it believes to be that
of pro-African American in the U.S.
In my opinion the biggest evil that African Americans face on a daily bases is not racism,
or police brutality, it is that of Black on Black crime. While this may seem to be a chilling
statement nearly every poor neighborhood does have a gang of sorts African Americans do
seem to highest rate of killing other African Americans.9,000 african americans are murdered
annually in the united states by other african americans. this chilling figure is accompanied by
another equally sobering fact, that 93% of them are killed by other african americans the
chilling fact is that as a people african americans cannot truly unite to face racism and police
brutality, unless we stop killing each other, and unite together as one people. Many African
American poverty stricken neighborhoods, host that of a high rate for the youth to enter a gang
of sorts. I believe that if gang's members could throw down their flags (colors), and fight for
something better, less African Americans would be killed by other African Americans in the U.S.
The chilling fact is that, being Black in America does, and always has put a target on your
back. I have witnessed first hand, when people have gone on rants on how African Americans
are all thieves, or are up to no good. Which is entirely bogus, and I believe people who say such
things are part of the reason why we are having serious racial tensions in the U.S. today. Police

Brutality, racism, and Black on Black crime in my opinion are reasons why African Americans
should unite as people. In my opinion African American reform groups (such as B.L.M.) cannot
pick and choose their battles, I believe they must face them all head on; I believe if they can face
racism, police brutality, and black on black crime head on, they can and will help shape a new
non-racial environment. Overall I believe that African Americans have faced a lot throughout the
history of the U.S., and still face a lot today and need to truly unite as a people and face racism,
black on black crime, and police brutality; to truly expel racism and the classification that
many African Americans are labeled with today.

Works Cited Page

"Quotes About Race Relations." (136 Quotes). N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2016.
"The Reality of Racial Profiling." The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human
Rights. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2016.
"Tomi Lahren Blames Black Lives Matter For Dallas Police Deaths & People Are Pissed."
Hollywood Life. N.p., 08 July 2016. Web. 25 July 2016.