there is nothing more confusing than telling a black girl that she is not
telling a black girl that she is not
telling a black girl that she is not black enough from kindergarten to fifth
black enough from kindergarten to fifth
black enough from kindergarten to fifth grade I attended a predominantly
grade I attended a predominantly
grade I attended a predominantly african-american elementary school I was
african-american elementary school I was
african-american elementary school I was a weirdo some would even say an oddball
a weirdo some would even say an oddball
a weirdo some would even say an oddball I didn’t speak in slang I wasn’t up to
I didn’t speak in slang I wasn’t up to
I didn’t speak in slang I wasn’t up to dip with the latest rap music believe it
dip with the latest rap music believe it
dip with the latest rap music believe it or not Lil Wayne was not on my radar at
or not Lil Wayne was not on my radar at
or not Lil Wayne was not on my radar at the time and I definitely definitely
the time and I definitely definitely
the time and I definitely definitely could not jump double dutch during
could not jump double dutch during
could not jump double dutch during recess for my life it was such a sad
recess for my life it was such a sad
recess for my life it was such a sad sight I would not wish that upon anyone
sight I would not wish that upon anyone
sight I would not wish that upon anyone to see but instead I danced to Beyonce’s
to see but instead I danced to Beyonce’s
to see but instead I danced to Beyonce’s single ladies in the back of cafeteria
single ladies in the back of cafeteria
single ladies in the back of cafeteria I sang show tunes at the top of my lungs
I sang show tunes at the top of my lungs
I sang show tunes at the top of my lungs every day and I read a variety of comic
every day and I read a variety of comic
every day and I read a variety of comic books I’m both a Marvel and DC fan I
books I’m both a Marvel and DC fan I
books I’m both a Marvel and DC fan I love them equally little did I know that
love them equally little did I know that
love them equally little did I know that finding enjoyment in these things made
finding enjoyment in these things made
finding enjoyment in these things made me not black enough to the people around
me not black enough to the people around
me not black enough to the people around me I remember walking to my fourth-grade
me I remember walking to my fourth-grade
me I remember walking to my fourth-grade classroom with one of my favorite books
classroom with one of my favorite books
classroom with one of my favorite books at the time it had something to do with
at the time it had something to do with
at the time it had something to do with magic and kids with superpowers knowing
magic and kids with superpowers knowing
magic and kids with superpowers knowing me when suddenly four of my fellow
me when suddenly four of my fellow
me when suddenly four of my fellow classmates were surrounding me making
classmates were surrounding me making
classmates were surrounding me making comments like that books for white
comments like that books for white
comments like that books for white people why are you reading it
people why are you reading it
people why are you reading it you don’t think you’re white do you all
you don’t think you’re white do you all
you don’t think you’re white do you all I could think at that time was that the
I could think at that time was that the
I could think at that time was that the book intrigued me I thought it was
book intrigued me I thought it was
book intrigued me I thought it was interesting I had no idea how skin
interesting I had no idea how skin
interesting I had no idea how skin colour could dictate whether or not I
colour could dictate whether or not I
colour could dictate whether or not I could find enjoyment in this book that
could find enjoyment in this book that
could find enjoyment in this book that was the first time I was ever called an
was the first time I was ever called an
was the first time I was ever called an Oreo now I don’t know about you but when
Oreo now I don’t know about you but when
Oreo now I don’t know about you but when I think of Oreos I think of the classic
I think of Oreos I think of the classic
I think of Oreos I think of the classic cookie the one you dip in milk for no
cookie the one you dip in milk for no
cookie the one you dip in milk for no longer and no less than seven seconds it
longer and no less than seven seconds it
longer and no less than seven seconds it has the nice Leon Brown cookies on the
has the nice Leon Brown cookies on the
has the nice Leon Brown cookies on the side with the like white cream on the
side with the like white cream on the
side with the like white cream on the inside
inside
inside I didn’t know though that’s what you
I didn’t know though that’s what you
I didn’t know though that’s what you could call someone an Oreo over time I
could call someone an Oreo over time I
could call someone an Oreo over time I realized what my classmates men they
realized what my classmates men they
realized what my classmates men they used the Oreo as a symbol of how they
used the Oreo as a symbol of how they
used the Oreo as a symbol of how they perceived me black on the outside but
perceived me black on the outside but
perceived me black on the outside but white on the inside I was being bullied
white on the inside I was being bullied
white on the inside I was being bullied by people that looked like me for not
by people that looked like me for not
by people that looked like me for not being black enough I didn’t understand
being black enough I didn’t understand
being black enough I didn’t understand that then and I still have trouble
that then and I still have trouble
that then and I still have trouble understanding that today I was born and
understanding that today I was born and
understanding that today I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale Florida Fort
raised in Fort Lauderdale Florida Fort
raised in Fort Lauderdale Florida Fort Lauderdale for those of you that not
Lauderdale for those of you that not
Lauderdale for those of you that not familiar with the place is what we call
familiar with the place is what we call
familiar with the place is what we call the salad bowl salad bowl means an
the salad bowl salad bowl means an
the salad bowl salad bowl means an integration of different cultures and
integration of different cultures and
integration of different cultures and ethnicities in the United States I was
ethnicities in the United States I was
ethnicities in the United States I was raised in a salad bowl environment I
raised in a salad bowl environment I
raised in a salad bowl environment I distinctly remember growing up around
distinctly remember growing up around
distinctly remember growing up around Caucasians african-americans Cubans
Caucasians african-americans Cubans
Caucasians african-americans Cubans Puerto Ricans Jamaicans
Puerto Ricans Jamaicans
Puerto Ricans Jamaicans Haitians I grew up around all different
Haitians I grew up around all different
Haitians I grew up around all different types of people my peers and I never
types of people my peers and I never
types of people my peers and I never judged each other based off of the skin
judged each other based off of the skin
judged each other based off of the skin the color of our skin we quickly judged
the color of our skin we quickly judged
the color of our skin we quickly judged each other based off of the content of
each other based off of the content of
each other based off of the content of our character it was okay for me to be
our character it was okay for me to be
our character it was okay for me to be Morgan and it was okay for my peers to
Morgan and it was okay for my peers to
Morgan and it was okay for my peers to be who they were
be who they were
be who they were don’t get me wrong I was always very
don’t get me wrong I was always very
don’t get me wrong I was always very aware of who I was I mean clearly I’m
aware of who I was I mean clearly I’m
aware of who I was I mean clearly I’m black right there’s no secret there and
black right there’s no secret there and
black right there’s no secret there and being a black woman I always always told
being a black woman I always always told
being a black woman I always always told and taught by my family the adversities
and taught by my family the adversities
and taught by my family the adversities that I may face being a black woman in
that I may face being a black woman in
that I may face being a black woman in America however I was never discouraged
America however I was never discouraged
America however I was never discouraged to treat people based on other anything
to treat people based on other anything
to treat people based on other anything other than who they were and neither
other than who they were and neither
other than who they were and neither were my peers that I grew up around
were my peers that I grew up around
were my peers that I grew up around however when I was 13 my parents decided
however when I was 13 my parents decided
however when I was 13 my parents decided that it would be a great idea to move
that it would be a great idea to move
that it would be a great idea to move from the sunny South Florida to the
from the sunny South Florida to the
from the sunny South Florida to the beautiful state of Delaware if you’re
beautiful state of Delaware if you’re
beautiful state of Delaware if you’re confused I’m still confused that’s a
confused I’m still confused that’s a
confused I’m still confused that’s a difference I’m that’s a different TEDx
difference I’m that’s a different TEDx
difference I’m that’s a different TEDx talk that I can’t give right now but I’m
talk that I can’t give right now but I’m
talk that I can’t give right now but I’m still confused about that long story the
still confused about that long story the
still confused about that long story the short my salad bowl environment now
short my salad bowl environment now
short my salad bowl environment now became a predominantly black environment
became a predominantly black environment
became a predominantly black environment in middle school now it’s you all that
in middle school now it’s you all that
in middle school now it’s you all that may not sound like a big deal and to me
may not sound like a big deal and to me
may not sound like a big deal and to me at the time it didn’t
at the time it didn’t
at the time it didn’t like a big deal as we obviously
like a big deal as we obviously
like a big deal as we obviously discovered earlier I’m a black woman
discovered earlier I’m a black woman
discovered earlier I’m a black woman however this was the first time that I
however this was the first time that I
however this was the first time that I was faced with the fact that I was not
was faced with the fact that I was not
was faced with the fact that I was not black enough for the black community I
black enough for the black community I
black enough for the black community I remember being in the school cafeteria
remember being in the school cafeteria
remember being in the school cafeteria at the end seventh grade where I was
at the end seventh grade where I was
at the end seventh grade where I was told that my necklace was pretty a my
told that my necklace was pretty a my
told that my necklace was pretty a my friend asked what did you get it and I
friend asked what did you get it and I
friend asked what did you get it and I proceeded to tell her that my mother
proceeded to tell her that my mother
proceeded to tell her that my mother gave it to me it was a gift from her
gave it to me it was a gift from her
gave it to me it was a gift from her during my birthday and it made me feel
during my birthday and it made me feel
during my birthday and it made me feel less self-conscious before I could even
less self-conscious before I could even
less self-conscious before I could even finish my thought she stopped me and
finish my thought she stopped me and
finish my thought she stopped me and said self-conscious that’s a big word
said self-conscious that’s a big word
said self-conscious that’s a big word why are you talking so proper you sound
why are you talking so proper you sound
why are you talking so proper you sound like a white girl I was confused because
like a white girl I was confused because
like a white girl I was confused because I mean as far as my knowledge goes
I mean as far as my knowledge goes
I mean as far as my knowledge goes self-conscious is a pretty known word in
self-conscious is a pretty known word in
self-conscious is a pretty known word in English I mean I didn’t know colors came
English I mean I didn’t know colors came
English I mean I didn’t know colors came with words I just was speaking but that
with words I just was speaking but that
with words I just was speaking but that was not good enough for my black friends
was not good enough for my black friends
was not good enough for my black friends at my black school I can remember having
at my black school I can remember having
at my black school I can remember having conversations about music with my peers
conversations about music with my peers
conversations about music with my peers and them telling me about the new Rick
and them telling me about the new Rick
and them telling me about the new Rick Ross album or the new Meek Mill album
Ross album or the new Meek Mill album
Ross album or the new Meek Mill album that came out and because I preferred to
that came out and because I preferred to
that came out and because I preferred to listen to Taylor Swift or turn on Tori
listen to Taylor Swift or turn on Tori
listen to Taylor Swift or turn on Tori Kelly music videos
Kelly music videos
Kelly music videos I was not black enough I listened to
I was not black enough I listened to
I was not black enough I listened to white girl music and I became known at
white girl music and I became known at
white girl music and I became known at the school is the white girl trapped in
the school is the white girl trapped in
the school is the white girl trapped in the black girl’s body whatever that
the black girl’s body whatever that
the black girl’s body whatever that means right see I have been labeled I
means right see I have been labeled I
means right see I have been labeled I have been put in a category and told to
have been put in a category and told to
have been put in a category and told to act how people with categories act and
act how people with categories act and
act how people with categories act and that’s just not fair how am i black if
that’s just not fair how am i black if
that’s just not fair how am i black if I’m not black to the black community in
I’m not black to the black community in
I’m not black to the black community in fact Who am I this is something I
fact Who am I this is something I
fact Who am I this is something I struggle with and I still struggle with
struggle with and I still struggle with
struggle with and I still struggle with today labels were initially used as
today labels were initially used as
today labels were initially used as forms of identification for instance on
forms of identification for instance on
forms of identification for instance on a job application I’ll use myself as an
a job application I’ll use myself as an
a job application I’ll use myself as an example if an employer comes across my
example if an employer comes across my
example if an employer comes across my application there are a few simple facts
application there are a few simple facts
application there are a few simple facts they will know about me right off the
they will know about me right off the
they will know about me right off the bat they’ll know that my name is Mya
bat they’ll know that my name is Mya
bat they’ll know that my name is Mya Showa that I was born on February 20th
Showa that I was born on February 20th
Showa that I was born on February 20th 1998 that I’m female African American
1998 that I’m female African American
1998 that I’m female African American and probably that I’m a college student
and probably that I’m a college student
and probably that I’m a college student but they won’t know who I am
but they won’t know who I am
but they won’t know who I am based on that limited and for
based on that limited and for
based on that limited and for nation nowadays we are so quick to
nation nowadays we are so quick to
nation nowadays we are so quick to categorize one another and put each
categorize one another and put each
categorize one another and put each other in these stereotypical bubbles
other in these stereotypical bubbles
other in these stereotypical bubbles that we don’t even take the time to know
that we don’t even take the time to know
that we don’t even take the time to know the true authentic person we make quick
the true authentic person we make quick
the true authentic person we make quick judgments based on limited information
judgments based on limited information
judgments based on limited information we know on about someone and that has
we know on about someone and that has
we know on about someone and that has caused immense division in our society
in December of 2016
in December of 2016 Daily Mail calm reported of a man in
Daily Mail calm reported of a man in
Daily Mail calm reported of a man in Cleveland Ohio who saw a woman in the
Cleveland Ohio who saw a woman in the
Cleveland Ohio who saw a woman in the middle of a blizzard on the side of the
middle of a blizzard on the side of the
middle of a blizzard on the side of the road who cannot move her car as the man
road who cannot move her car as the man
road who cannot move her car as the man proceeded to go to the side of the road
proceeded to go to the side of the road
proceeded to go to the side of the road and help the woman get her safely home
and help the woman get her safely home
and help the woman get her safely home he then noticed himself a Bernie Sanders
he then noticed himself a Bernie Sanders
he then noticed himself a Bernie Sanders supporter that she had a Donald Trump
supporter that she had a Donald Trump
supporter that she had a Donald Trump sticker on the back of her car this man
sticker on the back of her car this man
sticker on the back of her car this man then instead of helping the woman
then instead of helping the woman
then instead of helping the woman proceeded to move his car away from the
proceeded to move his car away from the
proceeded to move his car away from the woman’s and before he drove off he took
woman’s and before he drove off he took
woman’s and before he drove off he took out his cell phone and began to mock the
out his cell phone and began to mock the
out his cell phone and began to mock the woman and record it he then posted on
woman and record it he then posted on
woman and record it he then posted on Facebook with the caption and I quote I
Facebook with the caption and I quote I
Facebook with the caption and I quote I was going to help her but she had a
was going to help her but she had a
was going to help her but she had a trump sticker on the back of her car
trump sticker on the back of her car
trump sticker on the back of her car hashtag call your president see this is
hashtag call your president see this is
hashtag call your president see this is what we mean when we say labels divide
what we mean when we say labels divide
what we mean when we say labels divide people this man instead of even knowing
people this man instead of even knowing
people this man instead of even knowing the woman or getting a chance to even
the woman or getting a chance to even
the woman or getting a chance to even help a human being a need saw a label
help a human being a need saw a label
help a human being a need saw a label and painted a picture of a woman he did
and painted a picture of a woman he did
and painted a picture of a woman he did not even know and it affected how he
not even know and it affected how he
not even know and it affected how he treated her it affected how he looked at
treated her it affected how he looked at
treated her it affected how he looked at her and he’s taking that message and
her and he’s taking that message and
her and he’s taking that message and spreading it around the world as this
spreading it around the world as this
spreading it around the world as this went viral and was shared on numerous
went viral and was shared on numerous
went viral and was shared on numerous news sources and he was praised for his
news sources and he was praised for his
news sources and he was praised for his pettiness instead of being wrong for not
pettiness instead of being wrong for not
pettiness instead of being wrong for not helping another human being a need based
helping another human being a need based
helping another human being a need based off of a label metaphorically and
off of a label metaphorically and
off of a label metaphorically and literally and labels this is just an
literally and labels this is just an
literally and labels this is just an example that labels do divide us and
example that labels do divide us and
example that labels do divide us and that’s a problem
that’s a problem
that’s a problem white blond hair blue eyes rich black
white blond hair blue eyes rich black
white blond hair blue eyes rich black loud obnoxious ghetto
loud obnoxious ghetto
loud obnoxious ghetto LGBT extra flamboyant Muslims menaces to
LGBT extra flamboyant Muslims menaces to
LGBT extra flamboyant Muslims menaces to American society terrorist we need to
American society terrorist we need to
American society terrorist we need to treat each other based on who we are not
treat each other based on who we are not
treat each other based on who we are not what we are or the labels that society
what we are or the labels that society
what we are or the labels that society to decide to place upon us
to decide to place upon us
to decide to place upon us because we are so much more than that we
because we are so much more than that we
because we are so much more than that we are all a part of the human race one
are all a part of the human race one
are all a part of the human race one race and we should all be proud of our
race and we should all be proud of our
race and we should all be proud of our differences the day the world and us as
differences the day the world and us as
differences the day the world and us as people decide to treat each other based
people decide to treat each other based
people decide to treat each other based off of the content of our character is
off of the content of our character is
off of the content of our character is the day the world will see unity in
the day the world will see unity in
the day the world will see unity in order to spread this message Morgan and
order to spread this message Morgan and
order to spread this message Morgan and I put together a pledge that we’d like
I put together a pledge that we’d like
I put together a pledge that we’d like you to join with us and saying today but
you to join with us and saying today but
you to join with us and saying today but first yeah you gotta get on please get
first yeah you gotta get on please get
first yeah you gotta get on please get up
up
up please get on up I know you’re tired but
please get on up I know you’re tired but
please get on up I know you’re tired but like gotta get up take the hands of the
like gotta get up take the hands of the
like gotta get up take the hands of the people on either side of you like so as
people on either side of you like so as
people on either side of you like so as such weird German I miss you so hand
such weird German I miss you so hand
such weird German I miss you so hand sanitizer afterward okay fine I promise
sanitizer afterward okay fine I promise
sanitizer afterward okay fine I promise yes it is okay we would like you to say
yes it is okay we would like you to say
yes it is okay we would like you to say this we would like you to say this
this we would like you to say this
this we would like you to say this pledge with that’s what we’re gonna move
pledge with that’s what we’re gonna move
pledge with that’s what we’re gonna move out of the way so you can see it ready
out of the way so you can see it ready
out of the way so you can see it ready ready 1 2 3 I vow to judge others by
ready 1 2 3 I vow to judge others by
ready 1 2 3 I vow to judge others by content of their character and not the
content of their character and not the
content of their character and not the label Society has taught us I am more
label Society has taught us I am more
label Society has taught us I am more than my race my gender my sexual
than my race my gender my sexual
than my race my gender my sexual orientation or my physicalities no label
orientation or my physicalities no label
orientation or my physicalities no label shall ever had her eyes me nor any other
shall ever had her eyes me nor any other
shall ever had her eyes me nor any other human being I am enough and it always
human being I am enough and it always
human being I am enough and it always will be enough labels are used for
will be enough labels are used for
will be enough labels are used for identification but they do not identify
identification but they do not identify
identification but they do not identify me no labels means no division no
me no labels means no division no
me no labels means no division no division means we are one I am you are
division means we are one I am you are
division means we are one I am you are we are labels
”
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