Italia

I am second generation American. My Grandparents came to America during the fifties from Italy after the Cosa Nostra planted a rose at his door after he broke the Omertà (Vow of Silence) and turned in a member of the mafia to the local police force after he threatened to kill my Great Uncle. The rose means certain death, that your days were numbered, and therefore my Grandparents fled.

My parents were both born in 1970, my Mother's parents had also come to America in the fifties from Italy, but for different reasons. They were religiously persecuted for being Athiests.

Then, in 1992 I was born.

My entire life I have accepted the role as a white child, though my parents told me over and over again that I was NOT white. I was Italian, and being called white was an insult.

We lived in Miami until I was eight, and then I moved to Georgia with my Mother after my parents divorced. North Eastern Georgia is VERY different from Miami. There are so many different cultures in Miami, racism is found but the lines of race are not as distinct as it is here.

I knew of racism towards African Americans, it was taught at school in History. I knew of the American's unfair treatment to the Black people and for them I felt sorry.

But never, ever had I ever heard of racism towards WHITE people. I had never experienced it until I moved here. Instead of the classic racist white people, the African Americans and Hispanics towards the pale folk. I, have been called "white bitch", "cracker", and "a snotty white brat" just because my family made an honest living here since they immigrated here. I have never felt so self-concious or bad about myself in my entire life.

Now, it is my goal, before I graduate next year, to STOP ALL RACISM IN MY SCHOOL. I am tired of being told that I "owe" the African Americans something because I am white. I owe nothing! My family had moved here during the Civil Rights Movement, and had supported it fully since Italains had ALSO been discriminated as "whores."

As I said before, it is my goal to stop racial discrimination towards all races.