Wetback Essay, Research Paper
Paul Serrano
English 1A
7/11/1999
“Wetback”
Through my life I have usually been on the receiving end of racist comments, such as wetback fieldworker etc. In seventh grade I had to go to a public school because of moving reasons and that is where the comments started. I can honestly say that it was the worst experience of my life. There were only two Mexican in my class; I was one of them. The other student was also Mexican, but the catch was that he was a well know soccer player. I also played soccer, but I was not the all-pro player. Since he was so good and so well know no one ever said a word to him.
The first day at school everyone was nice to me. The first couple days were great, Everyone was friendly and willing to accept me. Going into my second week of school I met a girl Amy, she was beautiful. I was sitting at the lunch table one day and she walked by and I commented on how hot she was. One kid who I thought who was my friend said, “Since you are new here, I will let that go. I respond, “What do you mean?” Chad said, “l like Amy also, and whoever I liked no one tries stepping in, do you understand?” “Whatever dude” I said. Chad said, “Now listen, I like you and its is better off that way.” So naturally I did what I wanted to do, I asked Amy for her number.
That weekend Amy and I went out on a date. I sure did have a good time. That following Monday, Chad heard about it that date and got very upset. Just after second period I heard someone yell out “HEY WETBACK, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE” I sort of had an idea that said it, but I just ignored it and kept walking. A second later someone pushed me to the floor. I turned and Chad was standing there. Chad said “I warned you, you cotton piker.” I naturally backed off because it was not worth fighting about. From that point on everyone considered me the “Wimp who can not stand up for himself.” For the rest of the year my life was a living hell.
The only time anyone talked to me is when someone would make a racist comment. Half way through the soccer season I had to quit because I was treated like an outcast from my fellow members and the coach. Later on the year a kid named Matt Flyn made a racial comment. I was in such a bad mood so I punched him in the face. The fight was broken up right away, and we were both sent to the principal ‘s office. When we got there, I was the one that was punished and Matt was left off with no punishment. I found out later that week that the principal was racist against Hispanics. I had no idea what to do, so I just left it and told no one
Both my parents and the school guidance counselor noticed that I was having some problems. I refused to tell anyone what was matter with me, and told everyone to just leave me alone. That was first time I felt worthless thing in the world. Just because I dated a white girl, and because I was Mexican they demoralized to me.
About month a later, I looked at everyone that picked on me. I noticed that the kids. I went to school with were never taught what discrimination can do to someone, mentally and physically. In the world today, there are a variety of stereotypes put on all races. Ignorance is the origin of these stereotypes. Kids today should be educated on what racial discrimination can do to someone.
It can destroy them as it did to me, it can make them contemplate suicide for the first time, make them feel as if they were worthless as if their outcastes just because of there color of their skin and they do not follow social norms.
Majorities of the people today do have some sort of discrimination. Some are against homosexuals, African-Americans, Jews, Asians and other races that are different from one. Just because someone looks different than someone else, it dose not necessarily mean that they are different. I am half-Mexican myself and I dated a white American girl who did not even know that I was Mexican, until she met my parents. People should be educated so that they will understand other races are very much alike