This article first appeared in our December print edition.

Can the embellished parts of you be a cover up?

Without yielding, how often do we truly sit in pride? Often enough we believe the preferred speck in our eyes before we know the true state of another’s mind.

Somehow it’s a chore to reflect before we shame the things we observe.

Is it easier to become interested in situations that have no personal depth in our own lives than to smile and keep it moving?

Unfortunately, we quickly forget how twisted our tongues can become. Why is it ever so easy to corrupt a simple man’s strut?

In middle school when my eyes began to follow the crowds, I lost myself.

I became arrogant and bossy and somehow I landed in a new world.

With a blink or even a snap, the crown I wore began to tarnish. I believed I had the right to judge others and had no control over myself.

At a young age of seven I saw the diverse me. I saw my Afro and searched my appearance in awe and applauded the roots that nourished my crown.

My father and I had shared the same coils. I enjoy sharing the gift of our finely kinked hair, as this has always been a special blessing given to me.

As my truest intentions faded throughout the halls of fifth grade, I began to be confused on the standards of my character.

I allowed my surroundings to take control of my mind and this led to guilt and ultimate destruction of my reputation and my gift of diversity.

I began to judge my peers and would indulge in gossip, keeping me from reaching the things I deserved.

Somehow we choose the soulful ones in the crowd and strip them head to toe sometimes even without their knowledge.

Who deserves to get searched for their outward appearance?

It’s shameful that we choose to degrade gifts that we will never be able to recreate.

The man or woman you least expect to be great is actually as bold as you and greater than your negative outlook.

Do you stand taller than everyone else? Truly what rooted this envious spirit that we see amongst all of our diverse groups.

Earlier in the text I opened a portal that had a stench, one that I experienced in middle school eight years ago but it’s so relevant in telling this story because our troubles began from somewhere.

We all have to backtrack to expose the root of our pride.

How come we haven’t abolished slander? We have liberty in America; I thought that was something to be proud of.

For our rights to be a stage that we can all stand on we have to understand our true selves and undress our own embellished parts.

Together beauty can be sprinkled all over. The hope that our country birthed in the 18th century holds a gift that should be shared and loved by all. 

Independence is a gift.Our country’s independence is a diverse gift for all if it includes love.

I believe accepting the “diverse us” has the power to inspire another side of the American dream.

Our current standard in society is corrupting our present lives and it is scheduling an attack on generations onward.

 Diversity is a gift that we can be proud of together. We have generations waiting for us to make a move in unity.

Children deserve to grow up understanding the face of diversity, and the importance it can share.

Do you think you can open your heart to see the rainbows in the heart of our country?

As Stephen Covey says, “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”