Frank DiMaria Post #1

As far as personal ethnic and racial heritage is concerned I am a mutt so to speak. I have roots in German, English, Irish, and Italian. I must say though that I associate, because of my surroundings and family, more on the Italian side of things and ask my father or his parents what heritage I am and they would all say one hundred percent Italian. The concept of being Italian in my family has always meant closeness together, Sunday meals, and a sense of being in everyone’s business for better or worse.

I don’t really remember when I first became aware of issues of race and ethnicity. I don’t really ever remember any instances when I was younger and from my childhood that would have shaped the way that I address either issue. My parents were, and still are, pretty accepting of other races but of course every once and a while I’ll hear a joke about race from my grandparents usually towards blacks. It seems as though children are color blind so to speak until adults bring the issues of race and ethnicity to light. I don’t ever remember seeing people, or basing friends off of race and the differences never occurred to me. I really only started to become award of race problems when I was older in English and History classes in high school.

It seems for the most part (from memory) that teachers have always advocated the idea that everyone is equal. This idea of equality remains true in my home. I don’t think that I ever really had a skewed idea of a certain ethnicity or race growing up. I see now that I am older, that my parents and grandparents prejudices have come out on their treatment of certain people, but I don’t think that ever really influenced me. My parents as well always encouraged me to have my own thoughts and beliefs.

I wouldn’t say that my views on ethnicity and race have changed all that much. Now that I am older I have a better understanding of issue involving ethnicity and race and can understand others sides more easily. I suppose I also go into things now with a more open mind when thinking about issues like ethnicity and race.

The only time that I can recall that I can really remember seeing racism was when I was in seventh grade. I went to the store with my friend Steven, who is black, and we were just picking up some drinks because we had just played football. I remember watching the store manager say one of the employees under her breath to, “watch the black kid,” and the woman followed us around the whole store right until we checked out. The funniest part of the whole thing was that while the store employee followed Steven and I, I saw two white kids putting candy in their pockets. I know that this isn’t a huge case of racism but I’ll always remember watching the employee single Steven out.