Racism has affected my life in different ways. When I came to the United States, I had my dreams like everyone who comes to this country. Not knowing the challenges and the problems I had to face, racism was a big problem and a challenge for me.

I didn’t understand why some people said bad things to other people. Why do people want to be first in the store line? They want to be first because they have a different skin color. Why do people say to me, “Go back to your country. We don’t like you people. Speak English. I can’t hire you,” while they give me a bad look. In my country I never felt different from other people. I didn’t know what racism was until I was discriminated against in the United States.

 I have learned that a racist person is ignorant and I don’t want to be an ignorant person. I have learned that I have to see people’s hearts, not their skin color or nationality. Now I can look at myself and feel proud for who I am, what I am, and where I came from. When I came to this great country, I didn’t know much about myself. I thank God that now I know who I am. I know my roots, where I came from, and I love people even if they are ignorant. 

Carlos Rosado is a GED at Quinsigamond Community College.