Growing up, as an intercity adolescent many barriers existed in my life, which prevented me from truly becoming a critical thinker. Daily I was force feed basis opinions from family and citizens who lacked facts, education, and concrete evidence on matters they self-proclaimed to be an expert of. My urban city contributed to many core barriers that affected my mental state, which clouded my judgment and took away from me becoming an advanced critical thinker.

My mother was raised in the south during the segregation era she experienced segregated water fountains, restroom, and many other monstrosities that took place during the racial discrimination era in America because of her experience and environment she has some negative views of Caucasian people. I would not consider her to be racist however; I would consider her to be a person who believes we should still be separated to an extent. Growing up my mother would influence me by telling me “don’t completely trust whites, stop hanging with white people they will set you up, don’t date white girls it will get you killed.” Obviously, my mother is set in her ways but I contently debate with her my views to help her see things are different now. I also try to take as many pictures as possible with divers groups so that I can send pictures to my mother to let her know good white people exist.

Growing up in the urban city of Baltimore your environment mental hardens you; you gain street smarts to stay alive. The Baltimore City Public School education system is subpar when compared to neighboring school systems. During the 90’s the cities slogan was “Baltimore The City That Reads” the reason that phrase was chosen was Baltimore top the charts for adult illiteracy. Baltimore was my urban ecosystem it made me into a very stubborn person; it thought me right or wrong defend what you said because you said it.