‘I Didn’t Like Myself Back Then’: Groomed as a Teenager
“I grew up in an all-white city in western NY. Met my first racially mixed person when I was 14, no other people of any other race grew up near me. I heard the "N" word all the time. Went to Florida, it was even worse. Knew KKK members and people my age. There were actually white-only drinking fountains in their schools. Moving back to NY, and fast forwarding to the 90s, my children had many friends of all races. Thankfully, they showed me that skin color does not change a person's heart. Now at 62, my kids' friends have children that call me Gramma. Black, Puerto Rican and Native American. I would give my life for these kids. The world has changed, too slowly for those of color.”
- B.J.