by Annette Garza

Created on: December 24, 2008

Would you move into a neighborhood if you were the only person of your race living there? Yes, it's like asking would you shop at a only grocery store that consisted of only one race other than yours? Yes, we can't judge a book by it's cover as the saying goes treat others like the way you want to be treated. In order to be accepted by others we need to accept them as well.

Fourteen years of my life I was raised in a very small town that it's population consisted of 1,800 people and all were Hispanic's. I was about 6 years old when I had an "accident" and had to be escorted to the emergency room which was approximately twenty-five miles away. The Physician attendant that was on call that night was of a different race other than mine, and since I was never raised around any other races and just my own I was very frightened and didn't speak a word. Later on that night when I was discharged and we got home, my mother explained the difference of all races and said that we are all created equal, but our appearances were all different. Even though I was a bit young I began to understand the concept of accepting others regardless of where they come from and what they look like. Years had passed and we moved out of our community to look for a better lifestyle, and a better opportunity of employment in the big city. The big city was filled with many other races including my own, arriving at our location to where we will be residing I remember that my family was of the only race and the rest of the apartment community were of African American descent. We were welcomed with open arms and weren't judged one bit. My next door neighbor became one of my Best Friends more like family.I had learned so much going to school in the big city and other cultures that had me drawn and never realized that being cooped up in such a small town that I was raised in had no future for me. Years have gone by and I no longer live in that big city though many cherished memories that will never be forgotten. Now that I'm a mom,wife, and an American I learned through all of this was just a great experience and made me realize that just because your around many other people of different races and you're the only race around that doesn't make you any less different than anyone else on the contrary it makes you grow and become more familiarized with other races and there culture's and makes is more aware and learn what they have to offer and as well for them to understand the Hispanic's way.

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