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South
Central L.A.
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My experience as a limited thinker unknowingly began at birth. I was a black child born in an American inner city. I was raised Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) and attended private Adventist schools. Being a black male in America and SDA greatly impacted my thinking and how I viewed the world. My thinking and beliefs had never been challenged until I entered 5th grade. Until that time I had attended a black SDA school. Due to a lack of improvements at the school my mother thought it best if I attended a nearby Lutheran school. Entering a new school is tough enough, but I also had to contend with being the odd ball. Being SDA at a Lutheran school presented extra obstacles to overcome in order to fit in with the other children. I had to explain why I did not eat pepperoni on my pizza which led to arguments over which foods were considered clean and unclean etc…I had to explain why I did not attend birthday parties on Saturday because my family observed Sabbath or a day of rest. To the other children I was strange, and I began to question why I had to do certain things and if the other children did not do what I was taught to be correct were they going to "HELL"? It was a tough period, but it helped me broaden my perspective on life. [begin] page 1 [next] |