Being raised as an African child in a white dominated city, the feeling of isolation is inevitable. Being denied acceptance by both races without initiation which would be my color. Not "ghetto" enough blend in with the blacks but the  darkness of my flesh betrayed me to the whites. Forced to stand in the middle with no safe haven. Rejected by both races because if my failure to concede to either side. To coexist is not an option. Defined by characteristics far beyond my control. Classified as everything and anything but why I truly am; a girl craving acceptance. Mocked since my childhood. 5 years old walking to first grade to hear "look here comes the monkey" they'd scream at me and then laugh, "why is she so dark" as if I knew the answer. I began to dread living I my own skin crying myself to sleep taking multiple showers a day maybe if I scrubbed hard enough id become lighter. Words heard as a child imprinted in my mind forever. As I've grown and developed mentally and emotionally I've began to accept my self for who I am. The thought of being African no longer disgusts me I've embraced it. Being who I am and enduring what I've endured has shaped who I am today. Not to say that I am no longer mocked because of the color of my skin, but I've come to learn that once you accept yourself flaws and all the worlds opinion will cease to withhold any relevance.