The Valpo Core Reader
 

Document Type

Definition Essay

Publication Date

1989

Excerpt

During the summer before my third grade school year a new family moved in on my block. Since I was the youngest person in the neighborhood with few others in my age group, I was excited to find out that the "new" girl was my age. Laurie and I instantly hit it off as friends and began to do everything together. A special bond quickly formed between us after spending only a month together. But this bond soon came to a surprisingly abrupt end. I couldn't understand why every morning garbage was thrown in Laurie's yard. I also couldn't understand why, when we were playing outside, people would yell mean comments at her. A few weeks before school began, I saw a for-sale sign in Laurie's yard. Laurie and her family were black and had moved into a predominantly white neighborhood where they soon found out that they weren't wanted. This is a example of prejudice and how it can greatly affect people's lives, leading to unhappiness and resentment.

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