[I have always lived on the same side of town in the same city...my whole life. Right now I live with "the projects" right down the street. For 21 years, I lived in the projects.
((Holy s**t how old are you?! lawl!))
During those years, I went to a mostly black elementary school, then a nicely mixed junior high, followed by a mostly white private school and I then graduated from a nicely mixed highschool. My first boyfriend ever was white; I lost my virginity with a black man. (Yes, I shared that with you, oh, total strangers.) I have since dated a white man seriously and a mixed Puerto Rican/white man casually. (The others you don't need to know about wink ) I've had to stick up for those decisions every time. Black people where I live don't seem to like to see black women dating outside their race.
In junior high I made a choice that has stuck with me since my preteen years: my decision to take on my current accent. You wouldn't know what race I was if you heard me on the phone and I like it that way; I've had to endure many, many negative comments because of that, though.
Going to a mostly white private highschool was a lot like Disruptive's experience in the 'burbs: People were quick to assume that I was financially well-off and stuck up and "trying to act white."
I've learned to defend myself very well by reminding myself "whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger," and that "if someone doesn't like me, that's their problem, not mine." wink ]
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