My race and intelligence were two aspects that differentiated me. At school, the ignominy “smarty brownie” accompanied me till sophomore year of high-school, meaning that kids born of Indian descent with dark pigmented skin are naturally intelligent. At home I was referred to as an “ABCD” , an American Born Confused Desi; A derogatory term characterizing Indians who have grown up in America and act “American” are naive of their ancestral roots. I, however, never considered myself as an Indian or American-I am myself. Ultimately, my efforts at school nor at home ever sufficed. …show more content…
The class was engaging, but my level of excellence soon plummeted. Once I received my report card, I realized that for the first time in my life, I had failed a math class. The stigma “smarty brownie” left and the identity of being an unintelligent Indian girl arose. In the minds’ of others, I was a doomed child. With evil eyes casted upon me, I was