Token Kid
Allen Eckles
Mrs. Konczakowski
12 CP LA period 1
23 August 2012
“Token kid”
In school social circles, I always find myself becoming “The Token Black kid." Most people just naturally assume by the tan skin and curly hair that I must be half black. They mistakenly assume that many of the accomplishments I have made are due to the fact that I am mixed. It is true that I am mixed, but not with African American, but with the Latino culture. My mother was born in the Dominican Republic, and my dad is a Yankee from Columbus, Ohio. Repeatedly, I have written this off as a mistake given that a number of people are not able to find the Dominican Republic on a map, and are not familiar with the Latino culture encompassing more than just Mexico.
Consequently, I have become the “Token black kid” to most of my friends. This has come in spite of me repeatedly informing them that I am not African American. They obviously insist that I am because of my looks and my athletic abilities. At times, it leads me to some stressful conclusions on how I am looked upon as a person. I, like any human on this earth want to be seen as what I am instead of being misunderstood for something I am not. This conflict was also experienced by the monster Grendel. He was seen as a blood thirsty monster, when Grendel in reality was a good. He was just constantly misunderstood. In fact, it is this misunderstanding that leads him to the Dragon who corrupts his innocence. To his demise, after meeting the Dragon, Grendel’s whole demeanor and way of thinking changes and his heart turns to bitter slime. After claiming that he does not live to kill humans, Grendel begins to raid towns, often killing and frightening humans. Maybe if Grendel had not been so misunderstood when he was younger, he would not have turned to darker deeds to gain attention from the outside world.
My situation, thankfully, is not as drastic as Grendel’s, but both have the same underlying principles. We are seen
Mrs. Konczakowski
12 CP LA period 1
23 August 2012
“Token kid”
In school social circles, I always find myself becoming “The Token Black kid." Most people just naturally assume by the tan skin and curly hair that I must be half black. They mistakenly assume that many of the accomplishments I have made are due to the fact that I am mixed. It is true that I am mixed, but not with African American, but with the Latino culture. My mother was born in the Dominican Republic, and my dad is a Yankee from Columbus, Ohio. Repeatedly, I have written this off as a mistake given that a number of people are not able to find the Dominican Republic on a map, and are not familiar with the Latino culture encompassing more than just Mexico.
Consequently, I have become the “Token black kid” to most of my friends. This has come in spite of me repeatedly informing them that I am not African American. They obviously insist that I am because of my looks and my athletic abilities. At times, it leads me to some stressful conclusions on how I am looked upon as a person. I, like any human on this earth want to be seen as what I am instead of being misunderstood for something I am not. This conflict was also experienced by the monster Grendel. He was seen as a blood thirsty monster, when Grendel in reality was a good. He was just constantly misunderstood. In fact, it is this misunderstanding that leads him to the Dragon who corrupts his innocence. To his demise, after meeting the Dragon, Grendel’s whole demeanor and way of thinking changes and his heart turns to bitter slime. After claiming that he does not live to kill humans, Grendel begins to raid towns, often killing and frightening humans. Maybe if Grendel had not been so misunderstood when he was younger, he would not have turned to darker deeds to gain attention from the outside world.
My situation, thankfully, is not as drastic as Grendel’s, but both have the same underlying principles. We are seen