Wednesday, March 9, 2016 // The Statement 
7B

by Sharae Franklin, 
Michigan in Color Contributor
A

s a child, I was taught that love casts out all fear

Fear of difference, of embracing those unlike 

me

Unconditional love does not see with the eyes much 

like we do

Rather it sees with the heart
In this way, we are able to go to new places, meet new 

people, and not judge or make assumptions

I went to India this past summer, with an open mind 

and open heart

Although it was specified as a “service-learning” trip, 

I definitely was able to learn and take away more than 
what I was able to do in the community

I saw some of the strengths, beauties, and limitations 

of humanity

The saddening still existing misconception that the 

only face of America is a Caucasian male or female with 
blond, straight hair and blue eyes

When asked where I was from?
“America” was not an appropriate answer
More like Africa, West Indies, or Bangalore
But I could not accept or deny these guesses of my ori-

gin

For I have no specific knowledge of my ancestors
My social identities were brought to the forefront
And my privilege made more apparent
The question of “who am I?” was challenged daily
But I discovered more and more as the days went by
As pieces of myself were revealed, I saw the face of 

humanity in a new light

I began to see what it means to be a community, to 

work towards a common goal with strangers who quick-
ly became friends

An experience that crossed often untouched territo-

ries of working together regardless of language barriers, 
class, nationality, skin color, or religious and spiritual 
difference

I had found a place where I could be authentically me
When I came home and reflected I was enthralled by 

what I had discovered

Who am I?
I think that is a question many of us have asked our-

selves at one point in our lives.

Who Am I? What makes me, me?
Yes, I am a Black American, working class, heterosex-

ual woman, who is a first generation college student

I pray to God, who I believe helps write the script of 

my story, my life

I come from a people that have time and time again 

been ignored, misunderstood, victimized, and scruti-
nized, yet always still they rise

But really, who am I?
Am I only the mere things that people can see?
My dark skin, textured hair, or my wallet and pockets 

with little money?

Am I not ambitious, strong, confident, motivated, and 

talented?

Am I not hard working, caring, nurturing, and com-

passionate?

Who am I, really?
I am not merely one of these things but a mixture of 

it all

And although life has its struggles, I am not willing to 

tumble and fall

I am not the color of my skin or the value of my income 

but rather what I do being a Black person of low SES

These traits which are a major part of my identity and 

life do not completely define me

They are merely intricate pieces to a puzzle that fit 

together to create who I am and who I choose to be

But what about those things that people cannot see?
My passion for working with children, singing, danc-

ing and being carefree?

Are these things not also a part of me?
I take pride in my ethnic history, family traditions, and 

interests

My love for music, mathematics, family outings, and 

counseling close friends

But there is so much about me that can only be seen 

internally

If I were a looking glass, you could see every part of me 

but yet all you see is one side of me…rather all you choose 
to see is one side of me

Either my skin complexion, my Bible I carry, the less 

fancy clothes I wear, my vernacular or slang

But I understand that you may not comprehend that 

even though we may look the same or even totally differ-
ent, we all can relate to this

This question of “who am I?”
Like the iceberg effect, we are more than what people 

can see on the surface

There is so much hidden beneath waiting to be seen
Just take the moment and look a little deeper and you 

will be surprised by what you see

When I did this, I found the real me
I realized no matter what people say to discriminate, 

to separate

We are all not that different
We are all the same in that we are
Human…
I bleed red, you bleed red, we both cry, we laugh, we 

have ups, we have downs

So, when asked, “who am I?”
I can say…
I am Sharae, a young woman trying to leave a mark in 

the world just as my culture and identity has left a mark 
on my heart that always reminds me to never be afraid 
to just be me

ABOVE: ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY WATERS
LEFT: ILLUSTRATION BY EMILIE FARRUGIA

Who Am I?

