My name is Khalilah Naeema Ford. I was born in Louisville KY; my great ancestors were part of the Eastern Woodland Culture and belonged to the Iroquoian tribe however, after European Exploration much of my ancestor’s history became irretrievable because they relied on oral rather than written communication. I identify myself as an African American and so does society yet, my ancestors were Native Americans. When an average onlooker veiws me they see my latte’ toned competition. They fail to see that my ancestors shaped the Americas and established what European Explorers transformed. An average onlooker views my journey starting with the enslavement of Africans in the New World and continuing with the presidency of Barack Obama rather than the historic struggle for rights and identity of Native Americans.

I was raised in a predominately diverse community so rarely was I affected by the status quo of racism.  However at a very young age I understood the dynamics of my skin tone. I have three brothers and one sister, my sister is biracial so her skin tone is much fairer than mine. As a child I was subjected to being compared to my sister and her beauty. It was an unstated belief that African Americans with lighter skin complexities were prettier than those with a darker. I soon realized that my skin tone was one of the most important features I possessed outside of the fact that I am a women.

 While growing up my mother sent me to a preparatory school, while there I was taught the values needed to understand different cultures. To be able to understand different cultures one has to value education. As a child my mother emphasized the importance of being an educated black woman, she believed that if I was educated my ethnic background and race would not matter. As I continue my journey I realize that  being educated about my culture as well as others allows me  to see the world through so many different eyes; therefore allowing me to advance my mentality. My ancestors were able to live in their land and thrive even until after European exploration simply because they were educated about their environment and resourceful using what was provided to survive.

I have come to understand that race is important but education is more important. If everyone was culturally educated many of the stereotypes as well as discriminatory behavior would dissipate. Now I’m not saying that all it takes is for one to educate themselves, what I’m saying is that with education one’s mentality expands and so does their understanding of the world around them. My ancestors shaped America through cultural behaviors but now it is our turn to determine the dynamics of the world that we live in.