Click here to read Hurston’s essay “How It Feels to be Colored Me.” Pay close attention to the rhetorical strategies that Hurston employs. Then, using Hurston’s essay as inspiration, write your own narrative essay filling in the blank “How it feels to be _____ me.”
Must be 2 pages
As I sat down to write this essay, I couldn’t help but reflect on Zora Neale Hurston’s powerful words in “How It Feels to be Colored Me.” Her unapologetic celebration of her identity and experiences as a black woman inspired me to explore my own sense of self in a similar way. So, I invite you to join me on a journey as I delve into “How it feels to be _____ me.”
Growing up as a child of immigrant parents in a predominantly white neighborhood, I often felt like an outsider. My skin color, my culture, my language – everything about me seemed to set me apart from my peers. The playground taunts and the awkward stares only served to reinforce my feelings of otherness. I longed to blend in, to be like everyone else, but deep down I knew that I was different, and that made me feel both proud and isolated.
As I navigated through my teenage years, I began to embrace my uniqueness. I realized that my heritage was not something to be ashamed of, but rather something to be celebrated. The traditions, the food, the music – they all became a source of pride for me. I started to see myself not as a victim of my circumstances, but as a product of a rich and diverse culture that had shaped me into the person I was meant to be.
Now, as an adult, I am grateful for the experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. I have learned to stand tall in my own skin, to speak my truth without apology, and to celebrate the beauty of my differences. Being _____ me means embracing all aspects of myself – the good, the bad, and the messy in between. It means recognizing that my worth is not determined by the color of my skin or the place of my birth, but by the content of my character and the strength of my spirit.
There are still moments when I feel like an outsider, when I am made to feel small or insignificant because of who I am. But in those moments, I draw strength from the words of Zora Neale Hurston, who reminds me that my identity is something to be cherished, not hidden away. So, to be _____ me is to be unapologetically myself, to embrace my uniqueness with open arms, and to walk confidently in the knowledge that I am worthy just as I am.
In conclusion, “How it feels to be _____ me” is a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and empowerment. It is a reminder that our identities are not limitations, but rather sources of strength and resilience. So, let us all embrace who we are, celebrate our differences, and march boldly into the world as proud and confident individuals.