Gallaudet National Essay Contest
Honorable Mention		My Life Turning Point By Sadie RedBear South Dakota School for the Deaf Sioux Falls, South Dakota

	Sadie RedBear

The Indians were on this land for a long time. Then different people came from all over the world and racism came, too. I am a Native American who has been in a school for the deaf for nine years.

I’ve been exposed to racism for a long time. I have struggled with people who think that Indians always drink and that they are mean to white people. My family tried to keep racism away from me so that I didn’t have to worry about it, but now I’m in it. The teachers say, “Don’t let them get to you; they just don’t know how your life is right now.” I’ve tried to keep my feelings inside me, but people just make it worse. They don’t realize how far they go.

I know my people went through it before me. I tell my Indian friends to stand up for themselves. I tell them to forget what people say about Indians. I stand up for myself, too. I have a friend who supports me. She berates the racists. Even though I didn’t want her to choose between her friends and me, she always tries to help me.

Racism has changed my life. I’ve become a different person. When I graduate, I would like to go back to my community to help other teens deal with racism. I want to help them defend themselves.

My life turning point came when I realized that I need to show people that the majority of Indians are proud and smart—and we must try to teach these people about how we really are. We must also remain connected to our culture.

If people would stop all this racism, I believe we could get through this issue.