Good Essay On Composing Self

The interesting phenomenon of change is evident in all parts of the human experiences, even in the area of one’s beliefs. I did not think that some of the beliefs I’ve had in my life would ever change. The example of a belief in my life that has changed that I will discuss in the paper is somewhat contentious, and even causes embarrassment for me when I think about how I use-to feel. In earlier years of my adult life I believed that disadvantages caused by race were a weak excuse. I would get frustrated when I saw minorities complaining about never ‘getting ahead’ in life because they were African American or whatever other non-white race you can think of. As an individual who is a minority, I felt entitled to have this attitude. Looking at my own family who once immigrated to the United States, never allowed anything to limit their decisions to pursue higher education and a decent middle class life for themselves. Instead of having empathy toward the unfortunate members of society, I found myself to look down at people who asked for handouts from the government, those who lived in areas with gangs and violence, and all the under-educated poverty stricken members of society. Looking back, I was ignorant and harsh in my judgement.
The problem is I was convinced of this reality and no one was going to tell me otherwise. The belief was strong enough that as I think back, I chose individuals in my life based on my judgements. If I suspected that someone I met came from a ‘lower class family’ I was less likely to give that friendship a chance. My lack of patience and understanding of the socio-economic differences of people, primarily minorities, but even the subordinate white people in the country was quite small-minded of me.
My attitude has come a long ways over the past decade. About ten years ago, I met an individual who is an incredible individual and one of the most important people in my life. He is a man who is mulatto, otherwise known as a half black half white mix in terms of race. As my relationship with him developed he shared views and ideas with me about racial differences and the disadvantages of many black people that he believed to be the cause of the sad state of affairs for the African American communities spread out over the United States. Initially I disputed the argument and gave my logic and reasoning of my own family and other minority members I knew who never let anything stop them from pursuing a good life for their families. The attitude I had was that I saw how easily a person can achieve when he or she chooses to, so it must mean these groups of people I was judging were lazy and lacked motivation.
The proof of my theory at that time was evident in so many aspects of looking at the lower end of the socio-economic groups. They were the ones who spent time high or wasted on something or another, had children out of wed-lock often at young ages, no proper education, lacked stable employment, often broke the law, and were bound to living in places that I would never even drive through. There was plenty of evidence in my world to look and believe what I believed. The unpleasant stance limited my humility and kindness toward so many people. I would refuse to go to certain places if I thought too many of “those” type of people might be there. The attitude hinged on hatred or a type of racism almost.
It was not until I received this assignment that I even noticed that my attitude was the way it once was. Over the years I was exposed to new information and facts that gave me a different perspective on life. I began to read more about slavery and the unbelievable trauma that it created on the group at large and how it can be that these traits are still lingering in the African American people in the 21st century. Now my heart is open to seeing that not all people are lazy and wanting a dangerous life of drugs, gangs, and government hand-outs. I see now that when a person has not foundation to come up from, they are lost. There was never proper direction given in generations prior to help stabilize many of these groups. My circumstance is not at all comparable when I have a history of people who all are educated and have values that are carried on from generation to generation. I could trace back my heritage and know so much about who I am and where I come from. Many of the people I use-to judge do not have any of that.
Now that I have realized that people do not purposely choose that life, I am able and willing to go places, make friends with and hang out in environments I never would have ten years ago. I am humbled by what I hear about many of the poverty stricken members of society. It sickens me now when I think of how I once believed myself to be better than others. I was missing out on an opportunity to open my mind, my horizon, and the possibilities that are now present in my life that are making it rich with experience. Of course in any group of people, whether its race, culture, or socio-economic condition, there are those people who are out-right lazy, but that does not mean that the majority as a group are making excuses. The truth is, there is much more to learn about humans and the experiences we have that are responsible in helping us have the opportunities that form the various realities of our lives. Now I am a very different person, who is more likely to teach another person to expand their knowledge when I run across similar attitudes to what I once believed.