It’s about 9:30 p.m, as I’m walking down the street with my headphones in, jamming out with my favorite hoodie on (the one that granny made for me) I hear the clicks of the locks of a car door. I told myself it was just a coincidence, so I keep walking. Minutes later I look up and see a frail woman who looks about in her mid-twenties, we were coming up the same street when I noticed the fear in her eyes. We were about ten feet away when she walked fast-paced to the other side of the street. I paid it no mind, but I knew the reason why and I didn’t know how to feel about it. I kept walking, what was I supposed to do? Chase her and assure her that I wasn’t going to try to rob her, rape her, or do her any harm? No, I’m used to being treated like a criminal. Even though I’m a bright eighteen-year-old high school kid, with a full ride academic scholarship to college. They’ll never see that though, I guess I just chose the wrong night to wear my hoodie.

Discrimination- the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, and sex.

Black men experience discrimination every day all over the world, from teenagers to adults. “There are very few African American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me,” said President Obama. Most black boys feel like a threat because that’s a title the world has placed upon young black African Americans that just can’t seem to go away. “I’ve been watched in the convenience store, I’ve been watched in clothing stores, it seems as if I’m always suspected to be a criminal. I tend to feel uncomfortable around people who aren’t my race, just thinking of how they portray makes me uneasy.” said a student at Cape Central.

Racial discrimination is more than just judging someone based off of their ethnicity, it doesn’t stop there. It can lead to very serious situations, for instance- the 2012 George Zimmerman vs Trayvon Martin case. The assumption that a seventeen-year-old black kid with a hoodie on was dangerous and up to “no good” on a rainy night lead to the ending of his young life. “They always get away,” said Zimmerman, referring to African Americans who commit crimes. Looking at all young African Americans as criminals is racial discrimination. Not even considering why Martin had a hoodie on, or why he was in the neighborhood he automatically was labeled as a  “threat” to Zimmerman’s life.

“I’ve felt discriminated against multiple of times and in those situations, I didn’t know how to react. It made me feel like I was less of a person and of course, I was angry. It’s a feeling that you can’t really explain, if you don’t stand up for yourself you feel so empty but when you do it’s embarrassing to even have to. I’ve been suspected of stealing from corner stores, grocery stores, & clothing stores because of my appearance but I’ve never stolen a day in my life.” said a Junior at Central High.

No matter who you are, where you came from, and what you’re doing now people still will judge and discriminate against you because of your race. People in the world should come to a realization that every young black boy from teenagers to men – are NOT all bad guys. If I could tell those who discriminate against black males one thing it would be “I wish you really knew me outside of my color and see me for who I really am other than letting the world put a label on me,” stated anonymous student.

When asked if you could be any other race besides black, an anonymous African American male at CHS responded, “Actually, no I wouldn’t not even for a day.  As hard as it is, being seen as dangerous and violent, I wouldn’t want to put myself into anyone else’s shoes. I love how we can unite and stand against all odds and prove people wrong. They expect me to be one thing and that’s what pushes me so hard to be the exact opposite. I love being black.” he states with a grin. “Get to know me before racially profiling me and then you’d understand me.”