"Third Option"

GUMBO!!!!

         Some people are proud of their heritage. They do all they can to represent their parents' culture. Other people are ashamed of where their parents came from, their past, so they do everything they can to hide it. But as Americans, the younger generations are raised in a completely different culture. So what we were asked to write about this week was how do we preserve our parents' culture, but create our own at the same time. Is it possible?

        I think it's possible. I'm black and white, Momma's black Dad's white. People always ask me, 'So, if you had to choose between black or white, what would you choose?' That makes me mad. I'm not black or white, I'm black and white. People will tell me me I act white. But what do I do that I act white? Because I could've sworn I was just being myself. "Being the third option," because that's my only option. I think a lot of people are hypocrites because they expect others to accept them when they're trying to create their own culture and be their own person, but then still try to confine others to their parents backgrounds. No matter what, I'm wrong. Whether it's, "Ali, you can't do that, you're black!" or "Ali, you can't cay that, you're white!" I'm not allowed to be black and white, even though I am. After 16 years of this, I try to let it roll off me. But when it's so consistent, it's hard. I like to think of myself as an optimistic person, so I've forced myself to see a good side, I've decided it's a learning lesson. And it's taught me to never constrain someone to their parent's background and just let them be their own person.

          Now about being the "third option." I find it easy for me to be the third option, it's just being accepted as it is what I briefly me mentioned in the paragraph. I think Dee Wangero went about it the completely wrong way. Well, she got the whole 'displaying my heritage' part right. But her whole feeling if superiority to her mother was not okay. I don't understand how it made sense to her to "appreciate" her ancestry's past, but not the specific ancestors that went through it. I think the first step in being the third option is being respectful of the people and

          I think the only way to be the third option is by not letting other people's narrow minds affect how and who you are. You should just do what you want and make your culture what you want it to be.

traditions that came before you. You need to show the same respect that you want for the new culture you're creating. I think you should also participate in at least one custom from your parent's culture. I believe your parents are part of who you are, whether you like it or not. Their background played a part in how you were raised. So if you join them in celebrating their culture and what's special, whether that's eating a certain meal, or doing a dance, they'll more readily recognize that they should show the same value for your culture, even though it might be new and different to them.

         I think the only way to be the third option is by not letting other people's narrow minds affect how and who you are. You should just do what you want and make your culture what you want it to be.