I’m a huge fan of Latin culture and I grew up listening to Hip Hop, so I thought why not combine the two? This piece is a fun Latin Hip-Hop mix that I created in GarageBand. I was playing around with a few loops and then I discovered this Latin mix and my ear was looking for a nice Afro-type beat to blend it with and this is how it turned out. It’s not very long, but it’s enough to make you wanna get up and move.

“Your hair is nappy.” “You’re smart for a black girl.” “Oh, I didn’t know you had an iPhone.” Some of the few phrases I’ve endured in being an African American honors student in a small country hometown. Growing up, it felt like my white friends only associated with me when it was convenient. They made me feel less than, simply because I’m black. Since I was the only black girl in my honors classes, they had to talk to me at some point, but I didn’t get that same acknowledgment outside of the classroom. When talking about slavery, everyone would give me looks, or boys would make whip sounds at me and fellow black male classmate. They talked about my natural hair and how it was happy, but now it’s celebrated everywhere. I thought they were friends, but I wasn’t invited to the parties, or social gatherings. I felt like I was an accessory that they could just put on and take off. Now that I’m in college, things are a little bit different. Starting as a music education major was a bit eye opening. I felt like a black sheep at times, but I never dimmed my light to make anyone feel better about themselves. Attending a PWI is not always easy, but there’s a level of respect they give me as a black woman that’s a lot different from the past. Maybe it’s because of all the people speaking up about their mistreatment as black people, or maybe it’s because of all the activism going on around us, but at least it’s respect. The unpleasant encounters I’ve had being a minority has shaped me into a strong confident black woman that isn’t afraid to be her true self. I’ve always felt like I’ve had to quiet down, or do less, but that’s no longer who I am. I’m not afraid to sing out, I’m not afraid to speak up, and I’m not intimidated by my white peers. I now understand that I deserve the same opportunities as others, and I am deserving of a well-rounded life. In being a mentor for diversity students on campus I’m able to use my experiences to help and encourage others. I will tell my fellow black women that it’s okay to wear their natural hair around campus, it’s okay to laugh loud with your friends, and it’s okay to speak up if you’re not being treated fairly. While others might try to keep us silent, I’m not afraid to speak up for my fellow brothers and sisters who deserve to be treated fairly. On a campus that doesn’t always cater to minorities, I will be sure to make them feel loved and needed in every room that they enter.