Being more aware of what people say to me now as an adult, I never fully grasped the concept of being the "white" black girl. It made me realize how a black girl is viewed in society. I grew up in a small mostly white town, and my friends were mostly white. I was around people of the opposite race of me, but I never felt like there was any difference between us. I never saw the difference until I started to hear the remarks others would make as I slowly became more aware of what is being said around me.

Over time as I grew older, I would hear the comments from "friends" saying, "You're a white girl," "You're white in a black girls' body," "You're an Oreo." or the most famous line "You're not like them, you speak so proper." Back then I would just brush it off and laugh because I did not know what to say when people would make sorts of remarks towards me because of the color of my skin. But, now it makes me upset that I did not speak up about how uncomfortable those comments made me feel.

I tried to not let those comments bother me because I never paid attention that I was trying to act or speak like someone else.

I was always just being me.

I never really had any racist comments directly said about me, but I have heard people around me make sly negative remarks about a black person, but quickly turn to me and say, "Well not you, you're different." This phrase never really cleared the air with me because if we look at the underlying surface I am black. I have heard these statements my entire life, and I am sure it won't be the last. Because I do not fit into a stereotype of people I am considered the 'white' black girl. But, in reality, I have never tried to be anyone else, but me.

I am who I am because that is how I was raised to be. I am not who I am because I want to fit into the daily norm of society. I am a black girl and I am just living my life as me. Jazmin Aiken!